Crabronidae
Guides
Alysson
Alysson is a genus of solitary wasps in the family Crabronidae (subfamily Bembicinae, tribe Alyssontini). The genus comprises at least 40 described species distributed across multiple continents. These wasps are part of the diverse assemblage of digger wasps, though specific biological details for the genus as a whole remain incompletely documented. The genus was established by Panzer in 1806 and has undergone taxonomic revisions, with some authorities historically placing it in the family Bembicidae.
Alysson melleus
Alysson melleus is a solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae (subfamily Bembicinae). It is one of several North American species in the genus Alysson, which belongs to the tribe Alyssontini. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1837 and has been documented in Canada and the United States.
Alysson oppositus
Alysson oppositus is a species of digger wasp in the family Crabronidae (formerly Bembicidae). It is native to North America, with records from Canada and the United States. The species was first described by Thomas Say in 1837. Like other members of the genus Alysson, it is a solitary wasp that provisions nests with prey for its larvae.
Alysson triangulifer
Alysson triangulifer is a species of wasp in the family Crabronidae (formerly placed in Bembicidae). It occurs in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. The species was described by Provancher in 1887 and includes two recognized subspecies: A. t. triangulifer and A. t. shawi. Like other members of the genus Alysson, it is a digger wasp that provisions nests with prey for its larvae.
Anacrabro
Anacrabro is a genus of square-headed wasps in the family Crabronidae containing approximately 15 described species. Two species occur in North America north of Mexico: A. ocellatus, widespread east of the Rocky Mountains, and A. boerhaviae in the extreme southwestern U.S. and Mexico. The genus is distinguished from related crabronine wasps by its concave abdominal underside and, in A. ocellatus, by its specialized predation on plant bugs (Miridae) rather than flies.
Anacrabro ocellatus
square-headed wasp
Anacrabro ocellatus is a small (6-7 mm) fossorial wasp in the family Crabronidae. Unlike most related genera in tribe Crabronini that hunt flies, this species specializes in capturing plant bugs (family Miridae) to provision its subterranean nest cells. It is widespread east of the Rocky Mountains in North America, with three recognized subspecies. The species is notable for its potential role in biological control of agricultural pests.
Anacrabronina
square-headed wasps
Anacrabronina is a subtribe of square-headed wasps within the family Crabronidae, established by Ashmead in 1899. The subtribe comprises at least 4 genera and approximately 120 described species. Members are solitary wasps characterized by their distinctive square or rectangular head shape. The subtribe is part of the tribe Crabronini and subfamily Crabroninae.
Belomicrus
Belomicrus is a genus of solitary wasps in the family Crabronidae, tribe Oxybelini. The genus was established by A. Costa in 1867. Species are known from Europe, Africa, and North America. Members of this genus are predatory wasps that provision their nests with paralyzed prey.
Bembecinus floridanus
sand wasp
Bembecinus floridanus is a small sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by Krombein & Willink in 1951. As a member of the genus Bembecinus, it exhibits the characteristic traits of this group: strongly convergent eyes at the bottom of the face and strongly divergent at the top of the head, along with a petiolate or nearly petiolate second submarginal cell in the forewing. The species is found in North America and, like other Bembecinus, is a solitary ground-nesting wasp that provisions its larvae with prey.
Bembecinus nanus
Bembecinus nanus is a small sand wasp species in the tribe Stizina, family Crabronidae. Like other members of its genus, it excavates burrows in sandy substrates and provisions nests with leafhoppers (Cicadellidae) for its larvae. The species practices progressive provisioning, bringing prey to the developing larva on an as-needed basis rather than mass provisioning. It is one of approximately 190 Bembecinus species worldwide and among ten species recorded from North America north of Mexico.
Bembecinus neglectus
Bembecinus neglectus is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae (formerly treated as Bembicidae). It was first described by Cresson in 1873 and is known to occur in North America. As a member of the tribe Bembicini, it belongs to a group of solitary wasps commonly associated with sandy habitats. The species has been documented in museum collections and through citizen science observations, though detailed biological studies remain limited.
Bembix americana spinolae
Eastern Sand Wasp
A sand wasp subspecies common on barren sand exposures where females dig burrows into loose sand. Adults provision nests with paralyzed flies, with females providing progressively more prey as larvae grow. Formerly placed in family Sphecidae, now classified in Crabronidae. The subspecies is part of a variable species complex with intermediate characteristics between B. americana comata and B. americana spinolae in some populations.
Bembix belfragei
A solitary sand wasp in the genus Bembix, characterized by ground-nesting behavior in loose, sandy substrates. Females excavate burrows to provision with paralyzed flies, exhibiting progressive parental care by delivering prey as larvae develop. Adults of both sexes visit flowers for nectar, particularly composites. The species is part of a diverse North American radiation of sand wasps with complex nesting behaviors.
Bembix nubilipennis
Bembix nubilipennis is a sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by Cresson in 1873. Like other members of the genus Bembix, this species is associated with sandy habitats where females excavate burrows to provision with paralyzed flies as food for their larvae. The species is found in North America and Middle America, though specific behavioral and ecological details for this particular species remain limited in published literature. Most information about Bembix biology derives from studies of more common congeners.
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 rugosa
Bembix rugosa is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, described by J. Parker in 1917. As a member of the genus Bembix, it shares the characteristic behaviors of solitary digger wasps that excavate burrows in sandy substrates and provision nests with paralyzed flies for their larvae. The species occurs in North America, though specific details about its biology and distribution remain limited compared to better-studied congeners such as Bembix americana.
Bicyrtes
Bicyrtes is a genus of large, often brightly colored predatory sand wasps in the family Crabronidae. The genus name derives from the two noticeable projections arising from the rear of the mesosoma. Most species nest in sandy or coarse soils and provision their burrows with paralyzed true bugs, primarily Pentatomidae (stink bugs), though some species utilize Reduviidae (assassin bugs) and Coreidae (leaf-footed bugs) as prey. The genus contains approximately 11 described species distributed across North America, with some species extending into Central and South America and the Caribbean, including the Galápagos Islands.
Bicyrtes capnopterus
Bicyrtes capnopterus is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae. It occurs in Central America and North America. Like other members of the genus Bicyrtes, females are fossorial, excavating burrows in soil to provision with prey for their larval offspring. The species is part of a group of wasps known for preying on true bugs, contributing to natural control of pest populations.
Bicyrtes fodiens
Bicyrtes fodiens is a solitary sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, native to North and Middle America. Like other members of its genus, it is a fossorial species that excavates burrows in sandy or coarse soil to provision with paralyzed true bugs for its larval offspring. The species is part of a guild of beneficial predatory wasps that help control pest insect populations, including stink bugs. Adults are nectar-feeders and can often be observed visiting flowers.
Bicyrtes insidiatrix
Bicyrtes insidiatrix is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is found in North America. Like other members of the genus Bicyrtes, it is a solitary, fossorial wasp that nests in sandy or coarse soils. The species is part of a group of wasps known for preying on true bugs (Hemiptera), though specific prey records for this species are not well documented in the available literature.
Bothynostethini
Bothynostethini is a small tribe of solitary wasps in the family Crabronidae, described by W. Fox in 1894. The tribe is restricted to the Neotropical region. Members are distinguished by unusual structural modifications at the apex of the hind femora. The tribe contains relatively few species and is not well represented in collections.
Cerceris arelate
Cerceris arelate is a solitary predatory wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is native to North America and belongs to a genus known for specialized prey capture, with different Cerceris species targeting distinct insect groups. Like other members of its genus, it constructs underground nests and provisions them with paralyzed prey for its larvae.
Cerceris atramontensis
Cerceris atramontensis is a solitary predatory wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by Banks in 1913. Like other members of the genus Cerceris, it is a ground-nesting wasp that provisions its underground burrows with paralyzed insect prey for its offspring. The species is found in North America, with records from Canada including Alberta.
Cerceris blakei
Cerceris blakei is a species of solitary predatory wasp in the family Crabronidae. Like other members of the genus Cerceris, it is a ground-nesting wasp that provisions its underground nests with paralyzed insect prey for its larvae. The species was described by Cresson in 1865 and is native to North America. As with many Cerceris species, it likely specializes on particular prey groups, though specific prey associations for C. blakei are not well documented in the available literature.
Cerceris compacta
Cerceris compacta is a solitary predatory wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by Cresson in 1865. Like other members of the genus Cerceris, this species is a ground-nesting wasp that hunts and paralyzes prey to provision underground nests for its larvae. The species occurs in North America and Middle America. As a member of the Cerceris genus, it likely exhibits prey specialization, though specific prey preferences for C. compacta have not been documented in the available sources.
Cerceris conifrons
Cerceris conifrons is a solitary, ground-nesting wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by Mickel in 1916. Like other members of the genus Cerceris, this species is a specialist predator that captures and paralyzes specific insect prey to provision underground nests for its offspring. The species occurs in North America and Middle America, though detailed biological information remains limited compared to better-studied congeners such as C. fumipennis.
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.
Cerceris crucis
Cerceris crucis is a solitary crabronid wasp described in 1904. Like other members of the genus Cerceris, this species is a ground-nesting predatory wasp that provisions its burrows with paralyzed insect prey. The specific prey preferences and detailed biology of C. crucis remain poorly documented compared to better-studied congeners such as C. fumipennis.
Cerceris deserta
Cerceris deserta is a solitary ground-nesting wasp in the family Crabronidae, described by Thomas Say in 1824. Like other members of the genus Cerceris, it is a predatory wasp that provisions its underground nests with paralyzed insect prey for its offspring. The specific epithet "deserta" suggests an association with arid or desert environments, though precise ecological details remain limited in available literature. The species is part of a diverse genus of hunting wasps, many of which exhibit prey specialization.
Cerceris finitima
Cerceris finitima is a solitary predatory wasp in the family Crabronidae, described by Cresson in 1865. Like other members of the genus Cerceris, it is a ground-nesting species that provisions its underground nests with paralyzed insect prey for its larvae. The species occurs in North America and Middle America. Specific details regarding its prey preferences and biology remain poorly documented compared to better-studied congeners such as C. fumipennis.
Cerceris flavofasciata
Cerceris flavofasciata is a solitary predatory wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by H. Smith in 1908. As a member of the genus Cerceris, it likely shares the characteristic prey specialization typical of the genus, where individual species focus on particular beetle groups. The species is found in North America, though detailed ecological studies are limited compared to better-known congeners such as C. fumipennis.
Cerceris flavofasciata floridensis
Cerceris flavofasciata floridensis is a subspecies of the crabronid wasp C. flavofasciata, described by Banks in 1915. It is currently treated as a synonym in taxonomic databases. The parent species belongs to a genus of solitary, ground-nesting predatory wasps that specialize on particular beetle prey. While specific information for this subspecies is sparse, congeners such as C. fumipennis have been extensively studied for their role in biosurveillance of invasive buprestid beetles.
Cerceris frontata
Cerceris frontata is a solitary wasp species in the family Crabronidae, native to North America. Like other members of the genus Cerceris, it is a ground-nesting predator that provisions its nests with paralyzed insect prey for its larvae. The species was first described by Thomas Say in 1823. Specific prey preferences and detailed biology remain poorly documented compared to better-studied congeners such as C. fumipennis.
Cerceris fumipennis
Smoky-winged Beetle Bandit Wasp
Cerceris fumipennis is a solitary, ground-nesting wasp and the only buprestid-hunting member of family Crabronidae in eastern North America. Females construct subterranean nests in hard-packed sandy soil and provision them exclusively with paralyzed jewel beetles (Buprestidae). The wasp has become a valuable biosurveillance tool for detecting the invasive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), as it efficiently locates and captures these beetles from distances up to 2 km from its nest. Citizen science programs known as "WaspWatchers" monitor wasp colonies to survey for pest beetles.
Cerceris gnarina
Cerceris gnarina is a solitary ground-nesting wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by Nathan Banks in 1913. Like other members of the genus Cerceris, this species is a specialist predator that captures and paralyzes prey to provision underground nests for its larvae. The species is known from North America, though specific details about its biology and prey preferences remain poorly documented compared to better-studied congeners such as C. fumipennis.
Cerceris insolita
Cerceris insolita is a solitary predatory wasp in the family Crabronidae, found in North America. Like other members of the genus Cerceris, it is a ground-nesting wasp that provisions its nests with paralyzed insect prey for its larvae. The species was described by Cresson in 1865. Specific details regarding its prey preferences, nesting behavior, and precise distribution within North America remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Cerceris intricata graphica
Cerceris intricata graphica is a subspecies of wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by Frederick Smith in 1873. It belongs to the genus Cerceris, a group of solitary wasps known for their specialized prey-capture behavior. Members of this genus dig underground nests and provision them with paralyzed insects for their larvae. The subspecies is distributed in Middle America and South America.
Cerceris occipitomaculata
Cerceris occipitomaculata is a solitary ground-nesting wasp in the family Crabronidae. Like other members of the genus Cerceris, it is a specialist predator that captures and paralyzes prey to provision underground nests for its offspring. The species is distributed across North America and Middle America. As with congeners, it likely exhibits prey specialization, though specific prey records for this species are not well documented in the available sources.
Cerceris rufopicta
Cerceris rufopicta is a solitary ground-nesting wasp in the family Crabronidae (formerly Philanthidae). It is native to North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other members of the genus Cerceris, it is a specialist predator that captures and paralyzes prey to provision underground nests for its larvae. The specific prey preferences for this species have not been documented in the available literature.
Cerceris tolteca
Cerceris tolteca is a species of solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae (formerly Philanthidae), described by de Saussure in 1867. The species is found in Central America. As a member of the genus Cerceris, it likely exhibits the characteristic hunting behavior of provisioning underground nests with paralyzed insect prey for larval development, though specific biological details for this species remain undocumented in available sources.
Cerceris truncata
Cerceris truncata is a solitary wasp species in the family Crabronidae, described by Cameron in 1890. It belongs to a genus of predatory wasps known for specializing on particular prey groups. Most Cerceris species are ground-nesting solitary wasps that paralyze prey with their sting to provision underground nests for their larvae. The specific biology and prey preferences of C. truncata remain poorly documented compared to better-studied congeners such as C. fumipennis.
Cerceris verticalis
Cerceris verticalis is a solitary predatory 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 was described by Frederick Smith in 1856 and occurs in North America and Middle America. As a member of the diverse genus Cerceris, it likely specializes on a particular prey group, though specific prey associations remain undocumented in the available sources.
Clitemnestra
Clitemnestra is a genus of small sand wasps in the family Crabronidae, containing at least 60 described species. Members of this genus are predatory wasps that hunt various sap-feeding insects, particularly planthoppers, leafhoppers, and related Hemiptera. The genus was revised by Bohart in 2000, which included the merger of the former genus Ochleroptera into Clitemnestra. These wasps are generally inconspicuous due to their small size, with some species measuring only 5–6 millimeters in body length.
Clitemnestra bipunctata
Clitemnestra bipunctata is a small sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, measuring approximately 5-6 millimeters in body length. The species was formerly classified under the genus Ochleroptera, but was merged into Clitemnestra by Bohart in 2000. It is widely distributed across North America and has been recorded from Cuba.
Clypeadon sculleni
harvester ant hunter
Clypeadon sculleni is a species of solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, tribe Aphilanthopini. It is a specialist predator of harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex species), paralyzing workers to provision nests for its larvae. The species has been documented in western North America, particularly in association with flowering saltcedar (Tamarix) where adults seek nectar.
Crabro
Shield-handed Wasps, Square-headed Wasps
Crabro is a genus of solitary wasps in the family Crabronidae, commonly known as shield-handed or square-headed wasps. The genus contains at least 80 described species distributed across the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions (Holarctic). These fossorial wasps nest in sandy soils, constructing multi-celled burrows provisioned with flies (Diptera) for their larvae.
Crabro argusinus
Crabro argusinus is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae, described by R. Bohart in 1976. It belongs to a group of solitary wasps known for nesting in soil and provisioning their offspring with paralyzed prey. The species is known from North America, with records from Canada including Alberta. As a member of the genus Crabro, it shares the general characteristics of crabronid wasps but specific biological details remain poorly documented in accessible literature.
Crabro cingulatus
Crabro cingulatus is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. It occurs in Central America and North America. As a member of the genus Crabro, it belongs to a group of solitary wasps that provision nests with prey for their developing larvae. The species was described by Packard in 1867.
Crabro monticola
A solitary digger wasp in the family Crabronidae. The species has been the subject of comparative nesting behavior studies. As a member of genus Crabro, it is part of a group of predatory wasps that provision nests with paralyzed prey for their larvae.