Orthopteran-predators
Guides
Larrina
larrine wasps
Larrina is a subtribe of digger wasps within the family Crabronidae, tribe Larrini. These solitary wasps are characterized by reduced simple eyes (ocelli) that appear as scars rather than functional eyes. Members of this group nest in soil and provision their young with paralyzed insect prey. The subtribe includes genera such as Tachytes and the remarkable giant wasp Megalara garuda from Indonesia.
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.
Sphex
digger wasps
Sphex is a cosmopolitan genus of solitary wasps containing over 130 species. Females construct subterranean nests provisioned with paralyzed insects, primarily katydids and other orthopterans, as food for their larvae. The genus is notable for its stereotyped nesting behaviors that have been extensively studied in cognitive science and philosophy of mind, particularly the so-called 'Sphex Wasp Experiment' demonstrating rigid behavioral sequences.