Cryptocheilus

{{Short description|Genus of wasps}}

{{automatic taxobox

| image = Cryptocheilus infumatus 284801964.jpg

| image_caption = Cryptocheilus infumatus

| taxon = Cryptocheilus

| authority = Panzer 1806

| type_species = Sphex annulata

| type_species_authority = Fabricius, 1798{{cite journal | author = V.S.L. Pate | year = 1946 | title = The Generic Names of the Spider Wasps (Psammocharidae olim Pompilidae) and Their Type Species (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) | journal = Transactions of the American Entomological Society |volume = 72 | issue = 3 | pages = 65–137| jstor = 25077544 }}

| synonyms =

• Calicurgus Brullé, 1833
• Ceratocnemis Wolf, 1960
• Chlorocheilus Wolf, 1965

}}

Cryptocheilus is a genus of spider wasps of the subfamily Pepsinae, found in the world's warmer regions. They vary in size from medium to large and are often strikingly coloured. The females construct multicellular nests in cavities, once built each cell is stocked with a spider, captured by the female. They are found in open habitats such as heaths, meadows and forest edges.

There are 24 species of Cryptocheilus known from Europe, 6 from North America and 2 recently described from the Neotropics.Cambra R A & Wahis R 2005 New species of Cryptocheilus Panzer from Panama and Costa Rica (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae, Pepsinae) Notes fauniques de Gembloux 56, 3-6