Cryptocheilus (Cryptocheilus) discolor (Fabricius, 1793)
Body length: Female 30mm Male: (approximately) 20mm
Cryptocheilus discolor is a genus of spider wasps of the subfamily Pepsinae which are found in warmer countries around the Mediterranean Basin and the Middle East.
Habitat… Meadows, heaths and forest edges.
The females construct multicellular nests in cavities, once built each cell is stocked by the female with a spider.
There are 24 species of Cryptocheilus known to be in Europe. Although they feed on spiders helpful to humans, Cryptocheilus are not regarded as economically destructive.
C. discolor inflict a very painful sting, one of the most painful stings an insect can inflict on a human.
C. discolor first stings the spider between its poison fangs and then stings the spider again near the junction of the cephalothorax, this totally immobilises the spider; the spider may survive in this state for a few weeks.
Spiders captured and paralyzed by the sting of the spider wasp are fed to the young.
When they are not hunting for spiders C. discolour adults are commonly found nectaring on a wide range of flowers.
In the images below, you will see the female is much larger than the male .