Burrowing-wasp
Guides
Anoplius americanus trifasciatus
Anoplius americanus trifasciatus is a subspecies of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae. As part of the genus Anoplius, it shares the general biology of spider wasps: females hunt spiders, paralyze them with venom, and provision underground burrows as food for their larvae. The subspecies designation indicates geographic or morphological variation within the widespread A. americanus species complex. Like other Anoplius species, it is solitary and predatory, with adults likely visiting flowers for nectar.
Bembix occidentalis
sand wasp
Bembix occidentalis is a species of solitary sand wasp in the family Crabronidae. The species was described by W. Fox in 1893 and occurs in Central America and North America. Like other members of the genus Bembix, it is associated with sandy habitats where females excavate burrows to provision with prey for their larvae.
Bembix pallidipicta
A sand wasp species in the genus Bembix, first described by Frederick Smith in 1873. As with other members of this genus, females construct burrows in loose, sandy substrates and provision nests with paralyzed flies for their developing larvae. The species is part of a diverse group of solitary wasps known for their rapid, energetic movements and distinctive nesting behaviors.
Bembix sayi
sand wasp
Bembix sayi is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, found in Central America and North America. Like other members of the genus, it is a solitary wasp that excavates burrows in sandy substrates and provisions nests with paralyzed flies for its larvae. The species exhibits progressive provisioning, where females continue to supply food as the larva grows.
Cerceris convergens
Cerceris convergens is a solitary digger wasp in the family Crabronidae. Like other members of the genus Cerceris, it constructs underground nests and provisions them with paralyzed insect prey for its larvae. The species is distributed across North America and Middle America. While specific prey preferences for C. convergens are not documented in the provided sources, congeners exhibit strong prey specialization—C. fumipennis specializes on Buprestidae (jewel beetles), and C. bicornis specializes on weevils.
Gorytes smithii
Gorytes smithii is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae. It belongs to the tribe Bembicini, which includes solitary wasps that typically nest in sandy soils and provision their burrows with paralyzed prey. The species was described by Cresson in 1880 and occurs in North America. Like other members of the genus Gorytes, it is likely associated with open sandy habitats where it excavates burrows for nesting.
Hoplisoides hamatus
Hoplisoides hamatus is a sand wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is found in North America, with records from Canada including British Columbia. Like other members of the genus Hoplisoides, it is a solitary wasp that hunts treehoppers in the family Membracidae as prey for its larvae.
Hoplisoides nebulosus spilopterus
Hoplisoides nebulosus spilopterus is a subspecies of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae. Females construct short burrows in sandy soil to provision with paralyzed treehoppers (Membracidae) as food for their larvae. The subspecies is distinguished by spotted wings and is found in western North America, including Colorado and Alberta. Adults are approximately 8-10 mm in length and are rarely observed on flowers, though they may visit aphid colonies to feed on honeydew.
Hoplisoides splendidulus
Hoplisoides splendidulus is a solitary sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, originally described by Bradley in 1920. Like other members of the genus Hoplisoides, it is a predator of treehoppers (Membracidae), provisioning underground burrows with paralyzed prey for its larval offspring. The species is part of a diverse genus containing approximately 18 species in North America, with most species distributed in western regions.
Lestiphorus cockerelli
Lestiphorus cockerelli is a sand wasp species in the family Crabronidae (formerly treated as Bembicidae). It is native to North America, with confirmed records from Canada (Alberta) and the United States. The species was described by Rohwer in 1909 and is part of the diverse sand wasp fauna curated at major entomological collections including the University of California, Riverside Entomology Research Museum.
Philanthus pacificus
Pacific beewolf
Philanthus pacificus is a solitary wasp species in the beewolf genus Philanthus, native to western North America. As a member of the Crabronidae family, females are known to provision underground nests with paralyzed bees as food for their developing larvae. The species occurs from southwestern British Columbia through California to Baja California and Sonora, Mexico. Two subspecies are recognized: P. p. arizonae and the nominate P. p. pacificus.
Poecilopompilus
spider wasps
Poecilopompilus is a genus of fossorial spider wasps in the family Pompilidae, distributed throughout the New World. These wasps are notable for their Müllerian mimicry of social paper wasps (Polistes), sharing similar yellow and black or reddish-brown color patterns. Females hunt orbweaver spiders (Araneidae), paralyzing them with a sting and transporting them to underground burrows where an egg is laid on each spider. The genus contains approximately 37 recognized species, with only a few extending into the United States.
Prionyx canadensis
Prionyx canadensis is a solitary, thread-waisted wasp in the family Sphecidae. Females are distinguished from similar species P. parkeri and P. thomae by the absence of silvery hairs on the thorax. Like other members of the genus, this species is a parasitoid that hunts grasshoppers and provisions underground burrows with paralyzed prey for their larvae.
Prionyx thomae
Prionyx thomae is a solitary, thread-waisted wasp in the family Sphecidae. It is one of seven Prionyx species in the United States, ranging from the southeastern and western U.S. south to Argentina. The species is a specialist predator of grasshoppers, paralyzing them with venom to provision underground nests for its larvae. It lacks a common English name, reflecting its limited economic importance.