Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Anoplius was described by Dufour in 1834
For many years the genus Psammochares was used.
lists something like 48 species for North America, making it the largest genus of spider wasp in the U.S.
There are six recognized subgenera (Lophopompilus, Notiochares, Anopliodes, Arachnophroctonus, Pompilinus, and Anoplius).
12-20 mm, a few nearctic over 30 mm.
Medium-sized black wasps, often with orange abdominal markings. Females typically hunt intently on forest floor, etc., flicking wings.
All pompilines have a pocket in the lower rear corner of the third discal cell (the Peterson Guide should have a wing venation diagram). Female Anoplius all have noticeable stiff bristles on the last tergite (pygidium). Identification of males is often difficult.
Much of North America. Diverse in western US, but also found in eastern states.
Varied. Eastern species can be found in deciduous forests.
Late spring to early autumn. Some species have several generations per year starting from late May. Females of A. tenebrosus overwinter and can be found as early as April in the southern part of its range.
Larvae are provisioned with wolf spiders, funnel web spiders. Many are generalists and will provision with nearly every common family of spider found in North America. A. marginatus has been recorded taking Daddy Long-legs (Opiliones). Most are fossorial ground nesters, although some will use borings in wood and other crevices.
Probably the model for some Mydas flies.
Arachnospila (formerly Pompilus); this genus is very similar. Good views of the pygidium help but it is much safer to identify them on the basis of characters seen through a microscope.
Milne, plate 460, p. 839 (1)
Borror and White, p. 347 (ill.), plate 16--A. marginalis (2)
Brimley, p. 434, lists 4 spp. for North Carolina, as subgenus of Psammochares (3)
Evans, H.E. 1951. A taxonomic study of the nearctic spider wasps belonging to the tribe pompilini, Part II. Trans. Amer. Entomol. Soc., 76: 207-361. (descriptions, keys)
North Carolina State University Entomology
--page on genus, lists several species for that state.