Polysphincta boops is a species belonging to the family Ichneumonidae subfamily Pimplinae.[1]
This species is present in Europe.[2] These insects are mostly arboreal. They inhabit trees and bushes in a wide range of areas.
The adults of Polysphincta boops grow up to 8- long, with an ovipositor of 4.3-. They are among the largest species in the Polysphincta genus-group in Europe. They are characterised by a black body, with yellow scutellum, postscutellum, mandibles and legs. Females show a very long ovipositor.
This wasp parasitizes exclusively adults of spiders (Araniella species, mainly Araniella cucurbitina and Araniella opisthographa).[3] [4] When the egg deposited by the females hatches, larvae feed on the spiders' hemolymph. These insects overwinter as a small larva on their host.