Spider hunting wasp?

[nikolai_avenger]

Hello..

I have been 'lurking' on the WAB forum for a while and I am making my first post after I was lucky to witness a bit of natural drama today, on the underside of a climbing frame in a playground near Melbourne in south Derbyshire.


Basically I was trying to photograph spiders and I saw a wasp-like creature nearby - as I watched it entered the spider's web quite happily and seemed to have no problem negotiating it whatsoever. The resident spider, rather than rushing out to snare its prey, seemed to keep quiet and tried not very successfully to look the other way. The bold intruder soon found the spider cowering in the corner and gave it an exploratory sniff, at which point the spider shot out moved as far away from the wasp thing as possible.

Once the wasp thing had moved on, the spider went back into its hidey hole.

Initially I thought the insect was an ichneumon but then after it actively sought out the spider I wondered if it was actually a spider hunting wasp. I have looked at various pompilidae species, however they don't really match the insect I saw. Once of the photos (side on) looks like ophion luteus however would this hunt spiders? Also there is a clear ovipositor on the insect I saw, so presumably this would make it female?

Also not sure on the spider make/model, if anyone can shed any light. Again, I know the pictures are not brilliant but any ideas welcomed!

Unfortunately I cannot work out how to post pictures, is there any (easy) way to upload them? Heh heh...

EDIT>>>>



Many thanks in advance.

Nik.

[nikolai_avenger]

Pictures now uploaded to file library and thumbnail added to my original post.

Best regards, Nik.

[nikolai_avenger]

I have just realised that the spider cannot be seen in any of the pictures I have posted. Never mind on that one...