About Pompilus cinereus (Fabricius, 1775)
Pompilus cinereus, commonly known as the leaden spider wasp, is the most widely distributed species in the spider wasp genus Pompilus. Across much of its extensive range, it is the only species from the genus Pompilus that occurs there. It is the designated type species of the genus Pompilus, and by extension, of the entire wasp family Pompilidae. This species is widely distributed across the Old World, with confirmed records from Mediterranean islands, the Canary Islands, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Japan, the Philippines, Borneo, Java, and Australia. Within Britain, it occurs mostly in the southern part of the country, though its range extends north as far as the central belt of Scotland. The leaden spider wasp inhabits coastal dunes and sandy river beds and banks. It has a clear preference for loose sand, and can become very abundant in sheltered, sunny locations within dune systems.
