Fly-predator
Guides
Bembix americana
American Sand Wasp
Bembix americana is a solitary digger wasp in the family Crabronidae, widely distributed across the Americas from the Caribbean to North and South America. Females construct burrows in loose sand where they provision cells with paralyzed flies as food for their larvae. The species exhibits notable parental care, with females progressively increasing prey deliveries as larvae grow. Seven subspecies are currently recognized, reflecting considerable geographic variation in morphology and nesting behavior.
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.
Ectemnius
Ectemnius is a large genus of solitary digger wasps in the family Crabronidae, comprising approximately 188 species distributed worldwide except for limited representation in Australia. Species are characterized by black bodies with yellow markings and nest construction in dead wood cavities. They provision nests with paralyzed flies for their larvae.
Ectemnius continuus
Common Ectemnius
Ectemnius continuus is a small to medium-sized digger wasp in the family Crabronidae, widespread throughout the Holarctic region. It is black with yellow markings on the scapes, pronotum, tibiae and tergites, and has a clypeus covered with shining silver hairs. The species is notable for having 12 antennal segments in both sexes, unlike most aculeates where males typically have 13 segments. Males possess unique small spines on the first and second tarsomeres of the mid tarsus.
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.
Mellinus
Mellinus is a genus of solitary digger wasps in the family Crabronidae, containing approximately 16-18 described species distributed across the Palearctic, Nearctic, Neotropical, and Oriental regions. These small wasps (8-10 mm) are specialized predators of muscoid flies, which they hunt primarily near fresh manure and other fly-aggregating resources. Females excavate burrows in sandy soil to provision cells with paralyzed flies for their larvae. The genus is notable for its distinctive petiolate abdomen and feline-like stalking behavior when capturing prey.
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.
Oxybelus
spiny digger wasps
Oxybelus is the largest genus in the family Crabronidae, comprising approximately 264 described species of solitary wasps commonly known as spiny digger wasps. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring worldwide except in the Australasian region, with particular diversity in the Palearctic. Species are specialized predators of flies (Diptera), exhibiting distinctive prey capture and transport behaviors. Multiple species have been studied for their unique sting morphology and reduced paralyzing sting sequence relative to other digger wasps.
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.
Stictiellina
Stictiellina is a subtribe of sand wasps in the family Crabronidae, containing at least 60 described species distributed across six genera. These wasps are solitary, ground-nesting predators that provision their burrows with paralyzed flies for their larval offspring. Members are known for their elongated mouthparts adapted for nectar feeding and are often observed visiting flowers. The subtribe was established by Bohart and Horning in 1971.