Cerceris bicornuta

Cerceris bicornuta is a large digger wasp, over one inch in length, with distinctive orange and white alternating stripes on the abdomen. It can be distinguished from the similar Cerceris fumipennis by its prey association: C. bicornuta specializes on weevils rather than jewel beetles, and weevils rather than buprestids will be found near its nest entrances. Its burrow entrances appear slightly larger on average than those of C. fumipennis, though this is not a consistent distinguishing character. The species exhibits a faster, more powerful flight than C. fumipennis, making it more difficult to capture.

Nests are constructed in well-packed sandy soil in sunny, open areas. Suitable sites include ball fields, dirt roads, playgrounds, and other locations with lightly vegetated, sandy or sandy-clay soil.

Found throughout much of North America, with particular abundance in the southeastern United States. Records extend from the eastern and central United States southward through Central America.

Specialist predator of weevils in the genus Sphenophorus. The wasp paralyzes prey with its sting but does not kill it, then provisions underground nest cells with the immobilized weevils for larval consumption.

• Sphenophorus - preyWeevil genus; primary prey of this wasp species

Solitary nesting wasp that excavates burrows in sandy soil. Multiple nests may be loosely aggregated in favorable locations. The wasp captures prey in flight, paralyzes it with its sting, and transports it back to the nest. When threatened, wasps may drop prey and abandon it rather than retrieve it. Burrow entrances are perfectly circular and pencil-sized, surrounded by symmetrical mounds of fine-textured diggings.

Predator controlling populations of Sphenophorus weevils. As a solitary wasp, it contributes to local biodiversity and serves as potential prey for kleptoparasites such as mutillid wasps.

May be encountered by entomologists and naturalists in sandy habitats. The species is not known to sting humans even when handled. Its nesting habits in ball fields and similar open areas may bring it into casual contact with people, though it poses no threat.

• Cerceris fumipennisSimilar burrow architecture and nesting habits, but specializes on Buprestidae (jewel beetles) rather than weevils. C. fumipennis has smoky wings (hence 'smoky-winged beetle bandit') and exhibits slower, less powerful flight.
• Cerceris bicornisAnother weevil specialist with nearly identical burrow appearance; may be conspecific or closely related. Distinguishing these taxa reliably may require examination of prey or detailed morphological analysis.

• solitary wasp
• digger wasp
• weevil predator
• ground-nesting
• philanthine

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• Catalogue of Life
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• Working with Cerceris fumipennis—Part 1 | Beetles In The Bush
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