Grasshopper-hunter

Guides

• Prionyx atratus

  Prionyx atratus is a solitary, thread-waisted wasp in the family Sphecidae. It is one of two entirely black species in the genus Prionyx found in North America. Females construct underground burrows in sandy soil to provision with paralyzed grasshoppers as food for their offspring. The species is distributed across virtually the entire United States and into southwest Canada.

  solitary-waspthread-waisted-waspgrasshopper-hunterburrow-nesterkleptoparasite-host

• Prionyx canadensis

  Prionyx canadensis is a solitary, thread-waisted wasp in the family Sphecidae. Females are distinguished from similar species P. parkeri and P. thomae by the absence of silvery hairs on the thorax. Like other members of the genus, this species is a parasitoid that hunts grasshoppers and provisions underground burrows with paralyzed prey for their larvae.

  solitary-waspthread-waisted-waspgrasshopper-hunterparasitoidburrowing-waspkleptoparasite-host

• Prionyx parkeri

  Parker's Thread-waisted Wasp

  Prionyx parkeri is a species of thread-waisted wasp in the family Sphecidae. It is one of seven Prionyx species found in the United States. The species is distinguished from close relatives by two pairs of long palps that are part of its mouthparts. Like other members of the genus, it is a solitary parasitoid wasp that hunts grasshoppers as prey for its larvae.

  HymenopteraSphecidaethread-waisted-waspsolitary-waspparasitoidgrasshopper-hunterNorth-AmericaMiddle-AmericaBohart-&-Menke-1963Prionychini