About Agenioideus cinctellus (Spinola, 1808)
Agenioideus cinctellus (Spinola, 1808) is a relatively small spider wasp species, with adults measuring 6 to 8 millimeters in length. Its abdomen is mainly black, while the rest of its body has highly variable coloration. Leg color ranges from whitish to reddish brown, and some individuals have spots on their hind tibia. A small oval spot often appears on the inner edge of the eye. This species favors dry habitats with sandy soils. It can often be observed searching for prey on vertical surfaces like old walls. It has also been found on unstable clay under-cliffs along the Dorset coast. Its distribution extends from southern England north to the Midlands and East Anglia, across central and northern Europe, and eastward as far as Japan. It was recently recorded in Ontario, Canada, marking the first confirmed occurrence of this species in North America.
