Episyron gallicum


Episyron gallicum is a spider-eating wasp which, as its specific name suggests, has a distribution centred on France.

Habits

It hunts terrestrial spiders which hunt their prey such as Wolf spiders as opposed to web weaving spiders. The spider is paralysed with a sting and then the helpless spider is sealed in a tunnel and the wasp lays an egg on it. The grub dines on the living spider when it hatches.

Habitat

Open terrain with loose sandy soil.

Distribution

Southern Europe but has recently expanded its range into Poland, Germany and the United Kingdom.