Anoplius viaticus

Anoplius viaticus
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Pompilidae
Genus: Anoplius
Species:
A. viaticus
Binomial name
Anoplius viaticus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
  • Sphex viaticus Linnaeus, 1758
  • Anoplius (Arachnophroctonus) haupti Guiglia, 1941
  • Pompilus delatorius Tournier, 1890
  • Pompilus holomelas Mantero, 1905
  • Pompilus immixtus Tournier, 1890
  • Pompilus macrurus Tournier, 1890
  • Pompilus paganus Dahlbom, 1843
  • Pompilus pleropicus Tournier, 1890
  • Pompilus propinquus Smith, 1879
  • Pompilus tibialis Tournier, 1890
  • Pompilus valesicus Tournier, 1890
  • Sphex fusca Linnaeus, 1761

Anoplius viaticus, commonly known as the black-banded spider wasp, is a species of spider wasp. These wasps are known as spider wasps because the females capture spiders to provide their offspring with food. The paralysed spider is cached in a burrow, the wasp lays an egg on it, and when this hatches, the developing wasp larva consumes the spider. This species is found in sandy heathland across most of Europe.