Geometridae-predator
Guides
Ammophila formicoides
Ammophila formicoides is a thread-waisted wasp in the family Sphecidae, notable for its ant-mimicking appearance and behavior. It is closely related to A. wrightii, with which it forms a distinct species pair characterized by reddish-brown coloration, small size (under 20 mm), and ground-crawling habits that resemble harvester ants. The species exhibits a primitive behavioral trait: excavating the nest burrow after prey collection rather than before. Females provision nests exclusively with inchworm caterpillars (Geometridae).
Ammophila wrightii
thread-waisted wasp, caterpillar hunter
Ammophila wrightii is a species of thread-waisted wasp in the family Sphecidae, notable for its ant-mimicking appearance and behavior. It is one of the smaller members of its genus, measuring under 20 mm, and exhibits a distinct reddish-brown coloration. The species is known for its unusual nesting behavior among Ammophila wasps: females excavate burrows only after capturing prey, rather than before. It specializes in hunting inchworm caterpillars (Geometridae) to provision its nests.