Spider wasps
Scientific name: Pompilidae
Spider wasps
Scientific name: Pompilidae
Photo By Jennifer Rycenga , used under CC-BY-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Description
Members of the Pompilidae family, are known for their striking habit of paralyzing spiders, not to consume them, but to provide a live, immobile feast for their larvae. The female wasp will sting a spider to paralyze it, then lay an egg on its abdomen. When the egg hatches, the larva consumes the still-living spider, ensuring fresh food until it is ready to pupate. Contrary to the eerie nature of their reproductive behavior, Pompilidae play a vital role in controlling spider populations, thereby maintaining ecological balance.
Species of Spider wasps
Photo By Jennifer Rycenga , used under CC-BY-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original