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.
Crabro peltista
Crabro peltista is a species of solitary digger wasp in the family Crabronidae, described by Kohl in 1888. Like other members of the genus Crabro, this species is a fossorial wasp that constructs underground burrows to provision with prey for its larvae. The species occurs in Middle America and North America, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented in available literature.
Crabro snowii
Crabro snowii is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae, described by W. Fox in 1896. It is known from North America, with records from Canada including Alberta. As a member of the genus Crabro, it likely exhibits the fossorial nesting behavior and predatory habits characteristic of the tribe Crabronini, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented.
Crabro tumidus
Crabro tumidus is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is native to 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.
Crossocerus
Crossocerus is a large genus of square-headed wasps in the family Crabronidae, comprising at least 250 described species. These solitary wasps are characterized by their distinctive head shape and predatory lifestyle. The genus is taxonomically well-established and widely distributed across multiple continents.
Crossocerus angelicus
Crossocerus angelicus is a species of solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by Kincaid in 1900. It belongs to a genus of small to medium-sized predatory wasps commonly known as square-headed wasps. The species is recorded from North America, with specific occurrence data from Alberta, Canada. Like other members of Crossocerus, it likely preys on small insects, particularly flies, though specific prey records for this species are not well documented.
Crossocerus elongatulus
Crossocerus elongatulus is a solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, native to the Palearctic region. It has been introduced to the Azores and North America. The species belongs to a genus of aphid-hunting wasps, though specific prey records for this species are limited. Like other Crossocerus species, females construct nests in pre-existing cavities and provision them with paralyzed prey for their larvae.
Crossocerus harringtonii
Crossocerus harringtonii is a small solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by W. Fox in 1895. It belongs to a genus of aphid-hunting wasps that provision their nests with paralyzed aphids for their larvae. The species is known from limited records in western North America, particularly Alberta, Canada. Observations are sparse, with only 9 documented records on iNaturalist as of the source data.
Crossocerus lentus
Crossocerus lentus is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae, described by W. Fox in 1895. The genus Crossocerus comprises small to medium-sized solitary wasps that provision their nests with paralyzed prey, primarily small flies. This species is recorded from North America, with confirmed observations in Canada (Alberta). As with many Crabronidae, detailed biological information for this specific species remains limited.
Crossocerus maculipennis
Crossocerus maculipennis is a species of solitary digger wasp in the family Crabronidae. The species belongs to a genus of predatory wasps that provision their nests with paralyzed prey, primarily beetles. The specific epithet 'maculipennis' refers to spotted or marked wings. Based on related species in the genus, it likely exhibits nest-building behavior in sandy or loose soils and specializes on particular beetle prey groups.
Didineis latimana
Didineis latimana is a species of solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae (formerly treated as Bembicidae). It belongs to the subfamily Bembicinae and tribe Alyssontini. The species was described by Malloch and Rohwer in 1930 and is known from North America, with records from Canada including Ontario.
Didineis texana
Didineis texana is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae, tribe Alyssontini. It is one of several species in the genus Didineis, which are small to medium-sized wasps adapted to sandy habitats. The species was described by Cresson in 1873 and is known from the southern United States and Mexico. Like other members of its tribe, it is likely a predator of small insects, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Diploplectron ferrugineum
Diploplectron ferrugineum is a solitary wasp species in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Astatinae. It is a small, rust-colored wasp found in North America. Members of this genus are known to be ground-nesting predators that provision their nests with paralyzed prey, typically small insects. The species was described by William Harris Ashmead in 1899.
Ectemnius arcuatus
square-headed wasp
Ectemnius arcuatus is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1837. It belongs to a genus of solitary wasps characterized by their distinctive head shape. The species occurs in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other members of its genus, it is a solitary, predatory wasp that provisions nests with paralyzed prey.
Ectemnius centralis
square-headed wasp
Ectemnius centralis is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. The species is distributed across the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. Like other members of the genus Ectemnius, it is a solitary wasp. Detailed biological information for this species is limited in available sources.
Ectemnius cephalotes
Large Ectemnius
Ectemnius cephalotes is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is a solitary, fossorial wasp that constructs underground nests. The species has a broad distribution spanning Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. It is one of the larger members of the genus Ectemnius, which comprises approximately 80 species worldwide.
Ectemnius decemmaculatus
Ectemnius decemmaculatus is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. It occurs in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. As a member of the genus Ectemnius, it belongs to a group of solitary wasps that provision nests with prey for their offspring. The species was first described by Thomas Say in 1823.
Ectemnius dilectus
Ectemnius dilectus is a solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, tribe Crabronini. It belongs to a genus of digger wasps that primarily prey on flies (Diptera), distinguishing them from related genera such as Anacrabro that hunt plant bugs. The species is recorded in North America, with distribution records from Canada including Alberta. As a member of Crabronini, it is fossorial, constructing underground nests for rearing offspring.
Ectemnius dives
Ectemnius dives is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is found across Europe and Northern Asia (excluding China), North America, and Southern Asia. As a member of the genus Ectemnius, it belongs to a group of solitary wasps that typically nest in wood and provision their nests with prey for their larvae.
Ectemnius maculosus
square-headed wasp
Ectemnius maculosus is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. Its native range encompasses much of the eastern United States and southeasternmost Canada. The species has been reported from outside its native range in North America, Europe, and northern Asia, though these populations may represent adventive introductions. Like other members of the genus Ectemnius, this species is a solitary wasp that provisions nests with prey for its larvae.
Ectemnius paucimaculatus
Ectemnius paucimaculatus is a solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, tribe Crabronini. The genus Ectemnius includes species that are morphologically similar to other crabronine wasps such as Anacrabro, Lestica, and Crabro. Members of this genus are distinguished from close relatives by abdominal characters. Specific biological details for E. paucimaculatus remain poorly documented in published sources.
Ectemnius ruficornis
square-headed wasp
Ectemnius ruficornis is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is a solitary, fossorial wasp that constructs underground nests. The species has two recognized subspecies: E. r. ruficornis (Zetterstedt, 1838) and E. r. taiwanus Tsuneki, 1968. It has been recorded across Europe, Northern Asia, North America, and Southern Asia.
Ectemnius scaber
Ectemnius scaber is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is found in North America. The species has two recognized subspecies: Ectemnius scaber rufescens and the nominate Ectemnius scaber scaber.
Ectemnius sonorensis
square-headed wasp
Ectemnius sonorensis is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. It was described by Cameron in 1891. The species is known from Central America. Like other members of the genus Ectemnius, it is a solitary wasp that provisions nests with prey for its larvae.
Ectemnius stirpicola
square-headed wasp
Ectemnius stirpicola is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is native to North America, with records from Canada including Alberta. Like other members of the genus Ectemnius, it belongs to the tribe Crabronini, a group of solitary wasps that provision nests with prey for their larvae.
Ectemnius trifasciatus
Ectemnius trifasciatus is a solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, originally described by Thomas Say in 1824 under the basionym Crabro trifasciatus. As a member of the genus Ectemnius, it is part of a group of digger wasps known to nest in wood and provision their young with paralyzed flies. The species is recorded from North America, with specific observations from Alberta, Canada.
Entomognathus
Entomognathus is a genus of solitary wasps in the family Crabronidae. The genus contains at least 40 species distributed across multiple zoogeographic regions including the Palearctic, Nearctic, Ethiopian, Oriental, and Neotropical realms. Nesting behavior has been documented for relatively few species, with E. brevis being the most thoroughly studied. The genus was historically placed in Sphecidae but is currently classified within Crabronidae.
Epinysson basilaris
Epinysson basilaris is a species of solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae (formerly placed in Bembicidae). The species was described by Cresson in 1882 and is distributed across Central America and North America. As a member of the Nyssonini tribe, it belongs to a group of kleptoparasitic or predatory wasps whose biology remains incompletely documented.
Epinysson bellus
Epinysson bellus is a species of digger wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae, tribe Nyssonini. The species was first described by Cresson in 1882. It belongs to a group of solitary wasps that are part of the diverse nyssonine lineage within the Bembicinae. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a kleptoparasite or predator associated with other ground-nesting wasps, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Eucerceris arenaria
Eucerceris arenaria is a species of solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae (formerly placed in Philanthidae). Described by Scullen in 1948, it is found in North America. Like other members of the genus Eucerceris, this species is likely a predator of beetles, though specific biological details remain poorly documented. The species epithet "arenaria" suggests an association with sandy habitats.
Eucerceris bitruncata
Eucerceris bitruncata is a species of weevil wasp in the family Crabronidae, described by Scullen in 1939. The genus Eucerceris is part of the tribe Cercerini, commonly known as weevil wasps for their specialized predation on weevils (Curculionidae). This species occurs in North America. Very few observations exist in public databases, with only two records documented on iNaturalist.
Eucerceris canaliculata
Eucerceris canaliculata is a species of solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae (formerly placed in Philanthidae). It belongs to the tribe Cercerini, commonly known as weevil wasps, which specialize in hunting weevils and other beetles to provision their nests. The species is found in North America and is one of multiple Eucerceris species recorded from the region.
Eucerceris cressoni
Eucerceris cressoni is a species of weevil wasp in the family Crabronidae. It belongs to a genus closely related to Cerceris, with which it shares the common name 'weevil wasp' due to its predation on weevils. The species has been documented in North America, with records from Canada including Alberta. The genus Eucerceris was the subject of taxonomic work by entomologist George R. Ferguson, who continued research initiated by Herm Scullen.
Eucerceris provancheri
Eucerceris provancheri is a species of solitary wasp in the tribe Cercerini (Philanthinae, Crabronidae). Like other members of the genus Eucerceris, it is a weevil wasp that hunts weevils (Curculionidae) to provision nests for its larvae. The species occurs in Central America and North America.
Eucerceris rubripes
Eucerceris rubripes is a species of weevil wasp in the family Crabronidae, tribe Cercerini. The genus Eucerceris was subject to extensive taxonomic revision by George R. Ferguson, who specialized in Cerceris and related genera. Like other cercerine wasps, females provision nests with weevils (Curculionidae) as food for their larvae. The species has been recorded visiting flowering saltcedar (Tamarix) for nectar in Colorado.
Eucerceris superba
Eucerceris superba is a species of solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae (formerly placed in Philanthidae). It is native to North America, with records from Canada and the United States. The genus Eucerceris was revised by entomologist George R. Ferguson, who specialized in the taxonomy of these wasps.
Eucerceris tricolor
Eucerceris tricolor is a species of solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by Cockerell in 1897. It belongs to the tribe Cercerini, a group commonly known as beewolves or weevil wasps due to their specialized hunting behavior. The species is distributed across North America and Middle America. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to be a predator of weevils and other beetles, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited in published literature.
Eucerceris vittatifrons
Eucerceris vittatifrons is a species of weevil wasp in the family Crabronidae. The genus Eucerceris is closely related to Cerceris, both being specialist predators of weevils. The species has been documented in western North America, with records from British Columbia, Canada. Like other members of its tribe, it likely provisions nests with paralyzed weevils for larval development.
Foxia
Foxia is a genus of cleptoparasitic wasps in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae. The genus comprises 10 described species distributed across arid regions of the New World, from the United States south through Chile and Argentina. These wasps are obligate cleptoparasites, meaning they exploit the nests and provisions of other wasp species rather than constructing their own nests or hunting prey directly.
Foxia pacifica
Foxia pacifica is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae. It was described by Ashmead in 1898. The species is part of the genus Foxia, which belongs to the tribe Nyssonini. Based on the family-level classification and the genus name, members of Foxia are likely cleptoparasitic wasps that exploit the nests of other ground-nesting hymenopterans.
Gastrosericina
Gastrosericina is a subtribe of solitary wasps within the family Crabronidae, tribe Larrini. First described by André in 1886, this group comprises digger wasps that primarily prey on Orthoptera (grasshoppers and crickets). The subtribe includes several genera distributed across multiple continents.
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.
Gorytes venustus
Gorytes venustus is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, described by Cresson in 1865. It belongs to the tribe Bembicini, a group of solitary wasps known for nesting in sandy soils and provisioning their young with paralyzed prey. The species is documented from North America. As a member of the genus Gorytes, it shares the general biology of related sand wasps, though species-specific details remain limited in available sources.
Gorytes willcoxi
Gorytes willcoxi is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae (formerly placed in Bembicidae), described by Ohl in 2009. The species is known from North America. Like other members of the genus Gorytes, it is a solitary wasp that excavates burrows in sandy soils.
Gorytina
Gorytina is a subtribe of digger wasps within the tribe Bembicini, family Crabronidae. These wasps are solitary and typically nest in soil, with many species specializing on particular prey types. The subtribe includes approximately 20 genera distributed globally, with notable diversity in North America. Members are distinguished from other Bembicini by morphological features of the clypeus and labrum.
Hapalomellinus
Hapalomellinus is a genus of digger wasps in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae. Established by Ashmead in 1899, it belongs to the tribe Bembicini within the subtribe Gorytina. The genus contains at least three described species: Hapalomellinus albitomentosus, H. pulvis, and H. teren. Like other Bembicinae, these wasps are solitary and nest in soil.
Hapalomellinus albitomentosus
Hapalomellinus albitomentosus is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, originally described by Bradley in 1920 as Gorytes albitomentosus. It belongs to the subfamily Bembicinae, a group of solitary wasps known for nesting in soil and provisioning their young with paralyzed prey. The species is part of the genus Hapalomellinus, which contains only three described species. Records indicate presence in North America.
Hoplisoides
sand wasps
Hoplisoides is a genus of solitary sand wasps in the family Crabronidae, containing at least 70 described species worldwide. These small wasps are characterized by their spotted wings and specialized predatory behavior targeting treehoppers (Membracidae). Females construct short burrows in sandy soil to provision with paralyzed prey for their larvae. The genus is distributed globally except Australia, with approximately 18 species in North America.
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 punctifrons
sand wasp
Hoplisoides punctifrons is a species of solitary sand wasp in the family Crabronidae. It occurs in Central America and North America. Like other members of its genus, it is a ground-nesting wasp that provisions its brood with paralyzed prey.
Hoplisoides semipunctatus
sand wasp
Hoplisoides semipunctatus is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is native to South America, with records from Brazil (Bahia and Santa Catarina). The genus Hoplisoides comprises approximately 18 species in North America and is distributed globally except Australia. Members of this genus are solitary wasps that typically hunt treehoppers (Membracidae) as prey for their larvae.
Hoplisoides tricolor
sand wasp
Hoplisoides tricolor is a species of solitary sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, originally described by Cresson in 1868. It is one of approximately eighteen Hoplisoides species found in North America north of Mexico. Like congeners, it is a ground-nesting wasp that hunts treehoppers (Membracidae) as prey for its larvae. The species occurs across Central America and North America, with most Hoplisoides species concentrated in western North America.
Larra bicolor
mole cricket hunter
A solitary parasitoid wasp native to South America, introduced to Florida and Puerto Rico as a biological control agent for invasive mole crickets in the genus Scapteriscus. Adult females hunt mole crickets by stinging them to temporary paralysis and depositing a single egg on the host, which the larva consumes before pupating within the cricket's remains. Adults feed on nectar, particularly from Spermacoce verticillata and other flowering plants. The species has been successfully established in the southeastern United States following introductions from Brazil and Bolivia.
Larrini
square-headed wasps
Larrini is a tribe of solitary wasps in the family Crabronidae, commonly known as square-headed wasps. The tribe contains approximately 15 genera and over 1,300 described species. Members are characterized by reduced ocelli, often appearing as small scars rather than functional simple eyes. The tribe includes well-known genera such as Tachytes and Liris, which are common in North America and have been studied for their nesting biology and prey specialization.
Larropsis
square-headed wasps
Larropsis is a genus of square-headed wasps in the family Crabronidae, containing more than 40 described species. These solitary wasps are members of the tribe Larrini and are known for their nesting behavior, including nest construction and provisioning with prey. The genus was established by Patton in 1892. Specific ecological details remain limited for many species.
Larropsis distincta
square-headed wasp
Larropsis distincta is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is native to North America and has been documented in Canada, specifically in Alberta. The species was first described by F. Smith in 1856.
Lestica
Lestica is a genus of square-headed wasps in the family Crabronidae, containing at least 40 described species. The genus belongs to the tribe Crabronini, which includes primarily predatory wasps that provision nests with prey for their larvae. Species of Lestica are distributed across multiple continents, with records from Europe, North America, and tropical Africa. The genus can be distinguished from similar crabronine genera by morphological features of the abdomen.
Lindenius montezuma
Lindenius montezuma is a species of wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by Cameron in 1891. The genus Lindenius belongs to the subfamily Crabroninae, a group of solitary wasps commonly known as sand wasps or digger wasps. Members of this genus are typically predatory, hunting various insects to provision their nests. The specific epithet "montezuma" refers to the Aztec emperor Montezuma, though the exact reason for this naming is not documented in available sources.
Liris partitus
Liris partitus is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae, tribe Larrini. It is known from Central America and North America. As a member of the genus Liris, it is likely a solitary wasp that hunts crickets as prey, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented. The species was described in 1984 as part of a revision of North American Liris.
Mellinus abdominalis
Mellinus abdominalis is a species of digger wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by Cresson in 1882. It is a rarely observed species native to North America, with confirmed records from Alberta, Canada. Like other members of the genus Mellinus, it is presumed to be a predator of muscoid flies, though specific biological observations for this species remain undocumented. The species is part of a small genus of solitary wasps that excavate burrows in sandy soil and provision cells with paralyzed fly prey.
Mellinus bimaculatus
Mellinus bimaculatus is a small wasp in the family Crabronidae, known for its specialized predation on flies. The species is rarely encountered and poorly documented in scientific literature. Observations indicate females hunt muscoid flies, paralyze them with a sting, and transport them to underground burrows as provisions for their larvae. The species occurs in sandy habitats across parts of North and Central America.
Mellinus imperialis
Mellinus imperialis is a small digger wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is found in Central America and North America. The species is rarely encountered and poorly known biologically.
Mimesa
Mimesa is a genus of solitary wasps in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Pemphredoninae. Species are distributed across Europe and North America. As members of Psenini, these wasps are aphid predators that provision their nests with paralyzed aphids for their larvae.
Miscophini
square-headed wasps
Miscophini is a tribe of solitary wasps in the family Crabronidae, commonly known as square-headed wasps. The tribe comprises approximately 17 genera and at least 570 described species. These wasps are part of the diverse crabronid wasp fauna and are characterized by their distinctive head shape.
Miscophus
Miscophus is a genus of square-headed wasps in the family Crabronidae, containing over 180 described species. Members of this genus are solitary wasps that nest in soil or other substrates. The genus is classified within the tribe Miscophini and has a broad distribution across multiple continents.
Nysson
Nysson is a Holarctic genus of kleptoparasitic wasps in the family Crabronidae. Over 100 species are known. These wasps are obligate kleptoparasites, meaning females exploit the food caches of other solitary wasps by locating host burrows, digging them open, destroying the host egg, and replacing it with their own. The larva then consumes the prey provisioned by the host mother.
Nysson freyigessneri
Nysson freyigessneri is a species of wasp in the family Crabronidae, originally described by Handlirsch in 1887. The species is currently considered a synonym of Nysson aurinotus. Like other members of the genus Nysson, it belongs to a group of kleptoparasitic wasps that exploit the nests of other solitary wasps. The genus Nysson is distributed across North America, with species acting as parasites primarily targeting sand wasps and other burrowing wasps.
Nysson intermedius
Nysson intermedius is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae. It was described by Viereck in 1908. Members of the genus Nysson are kleptoparasitic, laying their eggs in the nests of other digger wasps, particularly those in the genus Bembix and related taxa. The species occurs in North America.
Nysson lateralis
Nysson lateralis is a species of solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, distributed across North America. It belongs to the subfamily Bembicinae and tribe Nyssonini, a group that includes kleptoparasitic wasps that exploit the nests of other crabronid wasps. The species was described by Packard in 1867. Like other members of the genus Nysson, it is presumed to be a nest parasite, though specific behavioral details for this species remain poorly documented.
Nysson plagiatus
Nysson plagiatus is a species of solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae. It is a kleptoparasite that exploits the food caches of other solitary wasps, particularly species in the genus Hoplisoides that hunt treehoppers. The species was described by Cresson in 1882 and occurs in North America. Like other members of the genus Nysson, females locate host burrows, open them, destroy the host egg, and replace it with their own egg, allowing their larvae to consume the prey provisioned by the host wasp.
Nysson subtilis
Nysson subtilis is a species of solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae. It occurs in North America, with records from Canada including Nova Scotia. The species is a cleptoparasite (cuckoo wasp) that targets nests of other ground-nesting crabronid wasps, particularly those in the genus Hoplisoides. It can be distinguished from congeners by its entirely black front.
Nysson tristis
Nysson tristis is a species of solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae (formerly Bembicidae). It is a member of the genus Nysson, which comprises cleptoparasitic wasps that exploit the nests of other digger wasps. The species is known from North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other Nysson species, it likely targets the nests of sand wasps (Bembicini) as hosts.
Oxybelus bipunctatus
square-headed wasp
A square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae with a broad geographic distribution spanning Africa, Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. The species exhibits seasonal variation in nesting behavior and is known to provision nests with paralyzed flies. Two subspecies are recognized: O. b. bipunctatus and O. b. thermophilus.
Oxybelus cressonii
square-headed wasp
Oxybelus cressonii is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae, described by C. Robertson in 1889. It belongs to a genus of predatory wasps that specialize in hunting flies. The species occurs in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other Oxybelus species, it is a solitary wasp that provisions its nest with paralyzed prey.
Oxybelus sericeus
Oxybelus sericeus is a species of solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Crabroninae. The species is notable for exhibiting male nest guarding behavior, which is rare among sphecid wasps. Males have been observed remaining at nest entrances and actively defending nests against intruders, representing unusual paternal investment in this group. The species was described by C. Robertson in 1889 and is known from North America.
Passaloecus annulatus
Passaloecus annulatus is a small solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Pemphredoninae. Females hunt aphids as food for their larval offspring and also feed on aphid honeydew. The species nests in pre-existing cavities such as beetle borings in dead wood, hollow stems, or vacant galls, partitioning these into linear series of cells. It occurs across North America.
Pemphredon
Typical Aphid Wasps, Aphid Wasps
Pemphredon is a genus of small to medium-sized solitary wasps in the family Crabronidae, commonly known as aphid wasps. The genus contains approximately 37 recognized species distributed across the Holarctic and northern Oriental regions. Females are specialized predators of aphids, which they hunt to provision nest cells for their larvae. These wasps are considered beneficial insects in agricultural and garden settings due to their role in aphid population control.
Pemphredoninae
Aphid Wasps
Pemphredoninae is a large subfamily of solitary, parasitoidal wasps in the family Crabronidae, containing over 1,000 species. Members are commonly known as aphid wasps due to the prevalence of aphid predation in many genera, though prey preferences vary consistently by genus. The subfamily has historically been treated as a separate family. Most species nest in pre-existing cavities including hollow stems, twigs, beetle borings, or excavated tunnels in soil or plant material. Several genera exhibit social or communal nesting behaviors, including Microstigmus and Spilomena.
Pemphredonini
Pemphredonini is a tribe of small, solitary wasps within the subfamily Pemphredoninae (family Crabronidae). These apoid wasps are commonly known as aphid wasps due to their specialized predation on aphids and other small Hemiptera. The tribe contains multiple genera, including the widespread Pemphredon. Adults are often observed visiting flowers for nectar.
Philanthus
beewolves, bee-hunters, bee-killer wasps
Philanthus is a genus of solitary predatory wasps commonly known as beewolves. Adult females excavate underground burrows in sandy soils and provision them with paralyzed bees as food for their larvae. Males are highly territorial, marking vegetation with pheromones to defend mating territories. The genus contains approximately 136 species worldwide, with about 30 species occurring in North America. These wasps are important pollinators as adults and serve as population regulators of bee communities.
Philanthus bicinctus
Bumble Bee Wolf, Bumblebee Wolf
Philanthus bicinctus, commonly known as the Bumblebee Wolf, is a species of beewolf wasp endemic to the American Rockies. This solitary wasp is notable for its specialized predation on bumblebees, which it paralyzes to provision underground nests for its larvae. Research conducted at Yellowstone National Park has documented large aggregations of this species and its significant potential to influence pollinator dynamics and insect-flower interactions. Males exhibit strong territorial behavior, defending hilltops and elevated areas to secure mating opportunities.
Philanthus bilunatus
Two Moons Beewolf
Philanthus bilunatus is a solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, commonly known as the Two Moons Beewolf. Like other beewolves in the genus Philanthus, it is a predator of bees and wasps, which it paralyzes to provision underground nests for its larvae. The species is found in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. As a member of the subfamily Philanthinae, it shares behavioral traits with related beewolves including territorial males and nest excavation in sandy soils.
Philanthus crabroniformis
beewolf
Philanthus crabroniformis is a species of bee-hunting wasp, commonly known as a 'beewolf,' native to North America. The species belongs to the family Crabronidae and primarily preys upon bees in the family Halictidae. Females construct nests in sandy soils and provision them with paralyzed prey for their larval offspring. The species has been documented in sympatry with P. gibbosus, with which it shares similar prey preferences but exhibits distinctive nest approach behaviors that may represent an evolutionary response to parasitic pressure from miltogrammine flies.
Philanthus gloriosus
Bee-wolf
Philanthus gloriosus is a bee-hunting wasp in the family Crabronidae, occurring west of the 100th meridian in North America. As a member of the beewolf genus Philanthus, females hunt bees to provision underground nests for their larvae. The species ranges from the Canadian prairies through the western United States to central Mexico.
Philanthus multimaculatus
beewolf, bee-hunting wasp
Philanthus multimaculatus is a common North American beewolf wasp in the family Crabronidae. Females are solitary nesters that excavate burrows in sandy soil, often in aggregations with conspecifics. They provision nest cells with paralyzed bees, primarily sweat bees (Halictidae), and lay a single egg on each prey item. Males exhibit territorial behavior, perching on grass stems near nesting areas to intercept females and chase rival males. Adults visit flowers for nectar and serve as pollinators while also functioning as predators that regulate bee populations.
Philanthus politus
beewolf
Philanthus politus is a species of beewolf wasp in the family Crabronidae, characterized by distinctive white striping. As a solitary hunting wasp, females prey on bees to provision underground nests for their larvae. The species is part of the diverse genus Philanthus, which contains approximately 30 species in North America and about 136 species worldwide.
Philanthus sanbornii
Sanborn's Beewolf
Philanthus sanbornii is a species of beewolf wasp in the family Crabronidae, native to North America. Unlike many congeners that specialize on bees, this species has been documented as a predator of flies (Diptera), particularly small muscoid flies. Females construct simple burrows in sandy soil, capture and paralyze prey, and provision nests for their larval offspring. A five-year study in eastern Massachusetts documented over 3,000 prey items from 108 species of bees and wasps, though subsequent research in Florida identified flies as the primary prey. The species exhibits selective prey capture based on temporal availability, spatial distribution, sex ratio, and body size of available prey.
Philanthus solivagus
Philanthus solivagus is a species of beewolf wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is found in North America, with records from Canada including Alberta. As a member of the genus Philanthus, it shares the characteristic behavior of preying on bees and other hymenopterans to provision nests for its larvae.
Philanthus ventilabris
Flat-collared Beewolf
Philanthus ventilabris is a solitary bee-hunting wasp ("beewolf") in the family Crabronidae. It occurs throughout North America and has been documented visiting flowers for nectar. Like other beewolves, females provision underground nests with paralyzed bees as food for their larvae. The species was first described by Fabricius in 1798.
Pison
Pison is a cosmopolitan genus of spider wasps in the family Crabronidae, comprising approximately 145 described species with many more undescribed, particularly in South America. Adult females hunt and paralyze living spiders to provision nest cells, on which they lay eggs. The genus exhibits diverse nesting strategies, including mud construction, use of natural cavities, and excavation of burrows. Pison wasps are most diverse in the Southern Hemisphere, with about one-third of species occurring in Australia.
Pisonopsis
square-headed wasps
Pisonopsis is a genus of square-headed wasps in the family Crabronidae, established by W. Fox in 1893. The genus contains five described species distributed across the Americas. Like other members of the tribe Trypoxylini, these wasps are solitary hunters. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the related genus Pison.
Pisonopsis birkmanni
square-headed wasp
Pisonopsis birkmanni is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. It was described by Rohwer in 1909. The species occurs in Central America and North America. Like other members of Trypoxylini, it is a solitary wasp. Observations of this species are sparse, with limited ecological data available.
Plenoculus
square-headed wasps
Plenoculus is a genus of square-headed wasps in the family Crabronidae, established by W. Fox in 1893. The genus contains more than 20 described species. Members belong to the tribe Miscophini, a group of solitary wasps within the subfamily Crabroninae. These wasps are part of the diverse crabronid lineage, which includes many predatory species that hunt arthropod prey to provision their nests.
Pseneo punctatus
aphid wasp
Pseneo punctatus is a species of aphid wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Pemphredoninae. It was first described by W. Fox in 1898. The species is known from Central America and North America. Three subspecies are recognized: P. p. carolina, P. p. ferrugineus, and P. p. punctatus. As a member of the Psenini tribe, it is presumed to be a predator of aphids, though specific prey records for this species are not documented in the available sources.
Pseneo simplicicornis
Pseneo simplicicornis is a species of aphid wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Pemphredoninae. First described by W. Fox in 1898, this species belongs to a group of solitary wasps that provision their nests with aphids as food for their larvae. The genus Pseneo comprises small, slender wasps that are part of the diverse Crabronidae family, which includes many predatory wasp lineages.
Psenini
Psenini is a tribe of aphid wasps in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Pemphredoninae. The tribe comprises approximately 11 genera and at least 460 described species. Members are solitary wasps that provision nests with aphids (Aphididae) as food for their larvae. The tribe was established by A. Costa in 1858 and has been historically classified within Sphecidae, though modern taxonomy places it in Crabronidae.
Pulverro
Pulverro is a genus of aphid wasps in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Pemphredoninae. The genus was established by Pate in 1937 and contains approximately 13 described species. These wasps are specialized predators of aphids, a characteristic trait of the Ammoplanina group within the Pemphredoninae.
Rhopalum atlanticum
Rhopalum atlanticum is a species of solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, described by R. Bohart in 1974. The genus Rhopalum comprises small, predatory wasps known as sand wasps that provision nests with paralyzed prey. This species occurs in North America and Middle America. Like other members of its genus, it likely excavates burrows in sandy soils and hunts small insects to provision larval cells.
Rhopalum clavipes
Rhopalum clavipes is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is native to Europe and Northern Asia, and has been introduced to North America where it is now widespread. The species has been documented with a unique phoretic association with the dipteran Ptychoneura minuta, whose eggs are attached to the thorax of adult female wasps.
Rhopalum sp.
A member of the digger wasp genus *Rhopalum*, provisionally assigned as a likely introduced species pending formal identification. *Rhopalum* species are solitary, predatory wasps that provision nests with paralyzed prey for their larvae. This record represents a specimen or population detected outside its presumed native range, suggesting human-mediated dispersal. The genus occurs across multiple continents, with some species widely distributed due to commerce and travel.
Saygorytes
Saygorytes is a genus of sand wasps in the family Crabronidae, established by Nemkov in 2007. The genus comprises approximately seven described species distributed in North America. Members are solitary wasps that visit sunflowers and other plants for nectar. They are part of the diverse community of wasps attracted to extrafloral nectaries on sunflowers in arid and disturbed habitats.
Saygorytes phaleratus
Saygorytes phaleratus is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is found in Central America and North America. The species was originally described by Thomas Say in 1837. As a member of the sand wasp group, it is likely associated with sandy habitats where it hunts for prey to provision its nest.
Sphenometopa tergata
satellite fly
Sphenometopa tergata is a satellite fly in the family Sarcophagidae, subfamily Miltogramminae. It is known to parasitize the nests of ant-queen kidnapping wasps in the genus Aphilanthops, particularly A. frigidus. The species has been observed loitering near nest aggregations of these solitary wasps, suggesting kleptoparasitic or parasitoid behavior. Its taxonomic history includes transfer from the genus Araba to Sphenometopa.
Steniolia
sand wasps
Steniolia is a genus of solitary sand wasps in the family Crabronidae, containing approximately 15 described species. All North American species are western in distribution, with four species extending only as far north as Mexico. Females are fossorial, constructing single-celled burrows in dry, powdery soil to provision with paralyzed flies. The genus is notable for ornate coloration, elongated mouthparts adapted for nectar feeding, and distinctive nightly sleeping clusters formed by both sexes.
Steniolia obliqua
Steniolia obliqua is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, originally described as Monedula obliqua by Cresson in 1865. It belongs to a genus of fourteen North American species, all with western distributions. Like other Steniolia species, it is a solitary wasp that hunts flies to provision underground nests for its larvae. The species has been recorded in British Columbia, Canada.
Stictia
horse guards, cowfly tigers, insecto policia
Stictia is a genus of large, often brightly colored predatory sand wasps comprising approximately 30 species, primarily distributed in the Neotropics. The genus is best known for Stictia carolina, commonly called the "Horse Guard," which specializes in hunting horse flies around livestock. Females construct solitary nests in sandy soil, provisioning them with paralyzed flies to feed their larvae. These wasps are valued for their biological control of pest flies, though they are not commercially available. Males engage in aerial patrols and "sun dances" to locate females.
Stictiella emarginata
sand wasp
Stictiella emarginata is a solitary sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae. It constructs nests in sandy soils and provisions cells with lepidopteran larvae, primarily Noctuidae and Hesperiidae. The species occurs across eastern North America from northern Michigan to the Atlantic Coast, with a flight season concentrated in late June through early August. Nesting behavior includes temporary nest closure, mound leveling, and orientation flights.
solitary-waspsand-waspnest-provisioninglepidopteran-predatoreastern-North-AmericaBembicinaeCrabronidaeHymenopterasandy-soil-habitattemporary-nest-closureorientation-flightmound-levelingNoctuidaeHesperiidaelate-summer-flight-seasonOntarioMichiganNew-Yorksand-prairieinsect-predatorground-nesting-waspsand-blowout-habitatCanadian-Forces-Base-BordenSimcoe-CountyCresson-1865emarginate-clypeusdisjunct-distribution-misconceptiongeographic-bridgemuseum-recordsfield-studiesnest-architectureprey-transportprovisioning-behaviorcell-constructionprey-storagelarval-developmentsolitary-HymenopteraApoideaSpheciformesAculeataApocritaHexapodaArthropodaInsectaAnimaliaEukaryotaCatalogue-of-LifeGBIFiNaturalistCanadian-Field-NaturalistKurczewskiBoyle2005KrombeinWillinkGillaspyBohartEvansMatthewsPateTimberlakeCooperHallIrwinSchlingerBallmerYanegaUCR-Entomology-Research-MuseumBembicid-HoldingsNyssonidaeBembicidaeBembiciniStictiellinaStictiellaStictiella-emarginataStictiella-bohartiStictiella-corniculataStictiella-evansiStictiella-fergusoniStictiella-flavescensStictiella-pulchellaStictiella-pulchella-serrataStictiella-p.-pulchellaXerostictiaMicrostictiaGlenostictiaStenioliaBembixBicyrtesEdithaMicrobembexRubricaStenogorytesStizusBembecinusStizoidesGorytesArgogorytesArigorytesClitemnestraHarpactusHoplisoidesLestiphorusMegistommumOryttusPsammaletesPseudoplisusSagenistaSpheciusTanyoprymnusTrichogorytesXerogorytesAlyssonDidineisAmmatomusAfrogorytesHapalomellinusNyssonEpinyssonFoxiaHyponyssonLosadaMetanyssonZanyssonAcanthostethusStictiella formosa
sand wasp
Stictiella formosa is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae. It is distributed across Central America and North America. As a member of the Bembicini tribe, it is likely associated with sandy habitats, though specific ecological details are poorly documented in available sources.
Stictiella villegasi
Algodones Sand Wasp
Stictiella villegasi, commonly known as the Algodones Sand Wasp, is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae (formerly Bembicidae). It is endemic to the Algodones Dunes in North America, indicating a highly restricted geographic range. The species was described by R. Bohart in 1982.
Stizoides
Stizoides is a genus of kleptoparasitic sand wasps in the family Crabronidae, containing approximately 30 described species globally. The genus is notable for its unique parasitic strategy: females exploit the food caches of other solitary wasps rather than hunting their own prey. Two species occur in North America—S. renicinctus (widespread in western North America) and S. foxi (restricted to Arizona and Mexico). Most species are found in Africa, Mediterranean Europe, the Middle East, and India.
Stizoides foxi
Fox's stizoide
Stizoides foxi is a kleptoparasitic sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, one of only two Stizoides species occurring in North America. This species is restricted to Arizona and southward into Mexico, where it parasitizes the food caches of other solitary wasps. Like its congener S. renicinctus, females locate and excavate the burrows of host wasps, destroy the host egg, and replace it with their own egg to exploit the provisioned prey. The species was described by Gillaspy in 1963 and remains poorly known compared to its more widespread relative.
Stizoides renicinctus
Stizoides renicinctus is a kleptoparasitic sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, one of only two species in its genus occurring in North America. The species has no common English name. It is known for its distinctive black body with a red or orange band on the second abdominal tergite, dark wings with translucent tips, and elongate build. Males are frequently observed visiting flowers for nectar, while females actively seek out the burrows of host wasps to exploit their food stores. The species exhibits unusual social behaviors including nighttime sleeping clusters and weather-related aggregations.
Stizus brevipennis
Stizus brevipennis is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae (formerly placed in Bembicidae). It was described by Walsh in 1869 and is found in North America. The species has been documented in at least 128 observations on iNaturalist and has been collected in fermenting bait traps in Missouri.
Stizus texanus
Stizus texanus is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by Cresson in 1873. It belongs to the tribe Stizini within the subfamily Bembicinae. The species is distributed in North America and Middle America, with museum holdings documented from the UCR Entomology Research Museum. As a member of the Crabronidae, it is likely a predatory wasp, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in available sources.
Tachysphex
square-headed wasps, digger wasps
Tachysphex is a large genus of solitary wasps in the family Crabronidae, comprising over 450 described species worldwide. These diminutive insects, typically 6–10 mm in length, are ground-nesting predators that provision their nests with paralyzed orthopteran prey. The genus exhibits remarkable diversity across multiple continents, with species groups showing distinct ecological preferences and host associations.
Tachysphex pompiliformis
Tachysphex pompiliformis is a small digger wasp in the family Crabronidae. The species was taxonomically redefined in 2016 when Straka demonstrated that the name had been misapplied to at least 14 similar species in Europe and Turkey. Four former synonyms were restored to species status: T. austriacus, T. dimidiatus, T. jokischianus, and T. nigripennis. As a result of this revision, the precise distribution and biological details of the true T. pompiliformis remain uncertain pending review of voucher specimens. The species belongs to the pompiliformis species-group, the most species-rich group within Tachysphex in Iran.
Tachysphex terminatus
Tachysphex terminatus is a small solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, part of a species group characterized by specific nesting behaviors in sandy substrates. Females construct individual burrows with multiple cells, provisioned with paralyzed prey for larval development. The species occurs in North America and shares the genus-wide trait of provisioning nests with orthopteran prey, primarily grasshopper nymphs.
Tachytes amazonus
Tachytes amazonus is a solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, tribe Larrini, described by F. Smith in 1856. The species is distributed across the Americas from the Caribbean through Central and South America, with records in Brazil across multiple states including Amazonas, Bahia, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Roraima, Rio Grande do Sul, and São Paulo. Like other members of the genus Tachytes, it is a ground-nesting wasp that provisions its burrows with paralyzed orthopteran prey.
Tachytes aurulentus
square-headed wasp, green-eyed wasp, sand-loving wasp
Tachytes aurulentus is a species of solitary square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. Like other members of its genus, it is characterized by notably large green eyes, particularly in males. The species is part of a diverse North American assemblage of approximately 35 Tachytes species. These wasps are ground-nesting predators that provision their burrows with paralyzed orthopteran prey for their offspring.
Tachytes crassus
Tachytes crassus is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by Patton in 1880. It is one of approximately 35 North American species in the genus Tachytes, a group commonly referred to as "green-eyed wasps" due to the striking eye coloration of many species. The species is found in North America, with records from Canada including Ontario. As with other members of the genus, it is a solitary wasp that nests in soil and provisions its burrows with paralyzed orthopteran prey.
Tachytes distinctus
green-eyed wasp, square-headed wasp
Tachytes distinctus is a solitary square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae, notable for the large green eyes characteristic of many larger Tachytes species. Females excavate underground burrows with branching tunnels and multiple cells, provisioning them with paralyzed orthopteran prey. Males emerge before females and defend territories from perches, using their prominent eyes to detect mates and rivals. The species occurs across North America and the Caribbean.
Tachytes grisselli
Tachytes grisselli is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae, tribe Larrini. The genus Tachytes comprises approximately 35 species in North America north of Mexico, commonly referred to as 'green-eyed wasps' due to the large, vivid green eyes of many larger species. Members of this genus are solitary, ground-nesting wasps that provision their burrows with paralyzed orthopteran prey.
Tachytes guatemalensis
Guatemalan green-eyed wasp
Tachytes guatemalensis is a solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, tribe Larrini. It belongs to a genus commonly known as 'green-eyed wasps' due to the large, vivid green compound eyes present in many species, especially males. As with other Tachytes, this species is a ground-nesting predator that provisions its burrows with paralyzed orthopteran prey. The species was described from Guatemala and occurs in Central and North America.
Tachytes pennsylvanicus
square-headed wasp
Tachytes pennsylvanicus is a solitary square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. It belongs to a genus commonly known as "green-eyed wasps" due to the distinctive large green eyes of males and larger species. Like other Tachytes, it is a ground-nesting predator that provisions its burrows with paralyzed orthopteran prey. The species was described by Banks in 1921 and occurs in North America.
Tachytes sayi
Tachytes sayi is a solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, tribe Larrini. It is one of approximately 35 North American species in the genus Tachytes. These wasps are characterized by large, often green eyes in males, and are commonly referred to as 'green-eyed wasps' or 'sand-loving wasps.' Females excavate burrows in soil to provision with paralyzed orthopteran prey for their larvae.
Tachytes validus
square-headed wasp
Tachytes validus is a solitary square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae, described by Cresson in 1873. As a member of the genus Tachytes, it shares the tribe Larrini's characteristic reduced ocelli appearing as 'scars' with golf club-shaped tails. The species is native to North America, with confirmed records from Canada including Manitoba. Like other Tachytes, it likely exhibits the genus's distinctive green eyes in larger individuals and ground-nesting behavior, though specific biological details for this species remain limited in published literature.
Tanyoprymnus
Tanyoprymnus is a genus of digger wasps in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae. The genus was established by Cameron in 1905. The best-known species is Tanyoprymnus moneduloides (Packard), which has been studied for its nesting biology. Members of this genus are solitary wasps that construct nests in soil.
Tanyoprymnus moneduloides
Tanyoprymnus moneduloides is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae. The species has been the subject of dedicated nesting biology research, with a 1981 study documenting its nest architecture and provisioning behavior. It is present in North America and Middle America according to distribution records. The species was originally described by Packard in 1867.
Tracheliodes
Tracheliodes is a genus of solitary wasps in the family Crabronidae. Species are distributed across Europe, Africa, and North America. The genus was established by A. Morawitz in 1866.
Trypoxylon carinatum
Trypoxylon carinatum is a species of solitary spider-hunting wasp in the family Crabronidae. As a member of the subgenus Trypargilum, it is among the larger species in the genus. Like other Trypoxylon, females nest in pre-existing cavities and provision cells with paralyzed spiders for their offspring. The species is distributed across North America and Middle America.
Trypoxylon clavatum clavatum
Trypoxylon clavatum clavatum is a subspecies of spider-hunting wasp in the family Crabronidae. It belongs to the subgenus Trypargilum, characterized by medium to large body size within the genus. The wasp nests in pre-existing cavities such as hollow twigs, beetle borings, and abandoned mud dauber nests, provisioning cells with paralyzed spiders for its larvae. Males actively participate in nest guarding and maintenance, a behavior termed 'patriarchate' by naturalist Phil Rau.
Trypoxylon clavatum johannis
Trypoxylon clavatum johannis is a subspecies of spider-hunting wasp in the family Crabronidae. It belongs to the subgenus Trypargilum, which comprises medium-sized to large species within the genus. Like other members of Trypoxylon, this wasp nests in pre-existing cavities and provisions its cells with paralyzed spiders. The subspecies was described by Richards in 1934 and is distributed in North America, with records from Ontario, Canada.
Trypoxylon collinum
square-headed wasp
Trypoxylon collinum is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. It occurs in North America and nests inside hollow tubes. The species was described by F. Smith in 1856. Two subspecies are recognized: T. c. collinum and T. c. rubrocinctum.
Trypoxylon collinum rubrocinctum
Trypoxylon collinum rubrocinctum is a subspecies of potter wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is native to North America, with confirmed records from Ontario, Canada. As a member of the genus Trypoxylon, it is presumed to construct mud nests provisioned with paralyzed spiders, though specific biological details for this subspecies remain poorly documented. The subspecies was described by Packard in 1867.
Trypoxylon politum
Pipe Organ Mud Dauber, Organ-pipe Mud-dauber Wasp
Trypoxylon politum is a large, solitary spider-hunting wasp and the only North American member of its genus that constructs free-standing mud nests rather than using pre-existing cavities. Its distinctive nest consists of multiple parallel tubular mud columns resembling organ pipes, with each tube internally partitioned into several cells provisioned with paralyzed spiders. The species exhibits cooperative behavior between sexes: males defend nests against parasites and rival males while females hunt and construct. Native to eastern North America, it has shown recent range expansion westward into Colorado and coexists with other mud dauber species.
Trypoxylon spinosum
Black Reed Wasp
Trypoxylon spinosum is a species of solitary spider-hunting wasp in the family Crabronidae. As a member of the subgenus Trypargilum, it is among the larger-bodied species in the genus. Like other Trypoxylon wasps, it nests in pre-existing cavities and provisions cells with paralyzed spiders for its offspring. The species was described by Cameron in 1889 and is known from Middle and North America.
Trypoxylon tridentatum
Trypoxylon tridentatum is a spider-hunting wasp in the family Crabronidae, subgenus Trypargilum. It inhabits mesic and xeric habitats in arid regions, particularly the Baja California peninsula. The wasp provisions nest cells with paralyzed spiders as food for its larvae, showing strong preference for orb-weaving spiders in the family Araneidae. Unlike its congener T. politum, which constructs free-standing mud nests, T. tridentatum nests in pre-existing cavities such as hollow twigs, beetle borings, and abandoned mud dauber nests.
Trypoxylon tridentatum archboldi
Trypoxylon tridentatum archboldi is a subspecies of spider-hunting wasp in the family Crabronidae. As a member of the subgenus Trypargilum, it belongs to a group of medium-sized to large Trypoxylon species that nest in pre-existing cavities rather than constructing free-standing mud nests. The species was described by Krombein in 1959 and is known from North America, with records from British Columbia, Canada. Like other Trypargilum species, it likely exhibits cooperative nesting behavior with males participating in nest guarding and maintenance, though specific behavioral documentation for this subspecies is limited.
Zanysson
Zanysson is a strictly New World genus of digger wasps in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae. The genus was established by Rohwer in 1921 and remained taxonomically stagnant for over 80 years until the description of Z. gemmatus from Colombia in 2007. Members are assumed to be cleptoparasites of other crabronid wasps, though direct biological observations are lacking for most species. The genus includes at least three described species distributed from the southwestern United States through Mexico to northwestern South America.
Zanysson plesius
Zanysson plesius is a species of wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae, first described by Rohwer in 1921. It belongs to the tribe Nyssonini, a group of sand wasps. The species is part of a genus containing at least three recognized species in North America, including Z. texanus and its subspecies. Specimens have been documented in museum collections, including holdings at the UCR Entomology Research Museum.
Zanysson texanus
Zanysson texanus is a species of wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae. It was originally described as Nysson texanus by Cresson in 1873. The genus Zanysson belongs to the tribe Nyssonini, a group of solitary wasps commonly known as cuckoo wasps or kleptoparasitic wasps that typically exploit the nests of other wasps. The species epithet 'texanus' indicates a Texas association, likely referring to the type locality or primary distribution.