SELECTION OF SPIDER PREY BY TRYPOXYLON POLITUM (SAY) (HYMENOPTERA: SPHECIDAE)

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Abstract
More than 94% of all spiders captured by Trypoxylon politum (Say) were from three genera: Neoscona, Araneus, and Eustala. The contribution of these spider genera to provisions of T. politum in the eastern and southeastern United States was estimated as follows: Eustala, 17%; Araneus, 21%; and Neoscona, 59%. Provisions in early summer were dominated by Araneus marmoreus Clerck, Eustala sp., and Neoscona hentzii (Keyserling); in mid-summer by N. hentzii; and in late summer by A. marmoreus and Neoscona domiciliorum (Hentz). The proportions of juvenile, subadult, and adult spiders captured depended on the time of year and the developmental stage of the spider. Trypoxylon politum captured male and female subadults, and female adults, but took very few male adults. Trypoxylon politum was found to be stenophagous with respect to prey species and euryphagous with respect to prey size.

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