Predatory-wasp
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.
Ammoplanina
Ammoplanina is a subtribe of aphid wasps within the family Crabronidae, containing approximately 10 genera and at least 130 described species. These wasps are small, solitary predators that specialize on aphids and related hemipterans. Phylogenetic studies have suggested this group may represent the sister lineage to the superfamily Apoidea (bees and sphecoid wasps), leading some classifications to elevate it to family rank as Ammoplanidae to maintain monophyly of families. The subtribe was established by Evans in 1959.
Ampulichomorpha
Ampulichomorpha is a genus of cockroach wasps in the family Ampulicidae. These solitary wasps are characterized by their specialized predatory behavior targeting cockroaches. The genus represents a distinct lineage within the ampulicid wasps, with species distributed across parts of Asia.
Ancistrocerus adiabatus cytainus
Ancistrocerus adiabatus cytainus is a subspecies of mason wasp in the family Vespidae, subfamily Eumeninae. As a member of the genus Ancistrocerus, it shares the characteristic transverse carina (ridge) on the base of the first abdominal segment that distinguishes this genus from other eumenine wasps. The subspecies was described by Cameron in 1906. Like other mason wasps in this genus, it is presumed to be a solitary nester that provisions its offspring with paralyzed caterpillars.
Anoplius semirufus
Anoplius semirufus is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae. As a member of the genus Anoplius, it belongs to a diverse group of solitary wasps that prey primarily on spiders. The species name 'semirufus' (half-red) suggests distinctive reddish coloration on part of the body, likely the abdomen. Like other Anoplius species, it is presumed to hunt wolf spiders or similar ground-dwelling spiders, paralyzing them with venom to provision underground nest cells for its larvae.
Astata
Astata is a cosmopolitan genus of solitary predatory wasps in the subfamily Astatinae, family Crabronidae. With 87 recognized species and subspecies worldwide, it is the largest genus in its subfamily. The genus is distinguished by distinctive wing venation patterns and pronounced sexual dimorphism in eye structure. Males possess exceptionally large compound eyes that meet dorsally at the top of the head, while females have normal, separated eyes.
Astata occidentalis
Astata occidentalis is a predatory wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by Cresson in 1881. The species occurs in Central America and North America. Like other members of the genus Astata, it hunts stink bugs (family Pentatomidae) to provision nests for its offspring. Research indicates that female wasps are attracted to kairomones produced by stink bugs, including pheromones of Thyanta pallidovirens, suggesting a specialized predator-prey relationship.
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.
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.
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.
Cercerini
Weevil Wasps and Allies
Cercerini is a tribe of solitary wasps within the subfamily Philanthinae of the family Crabronidae. Members are commonly known as "weevil wasps" due to their specialized predation on adult weevils (Curculionidae). The tribe contains approximately 900 species across several genera, with Cerceris being the largest and most widely distributed. These wasps are characterized by their stout bodies, strong mandibles adapted for handling hard-bodied prey, and distinctive nesting behaviors involving burrows in soil or pre-existing cavities.
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 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 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 halone
Cerceris halone is a solitary predatory wasp in the family Crabronidae, described by Banks in 1912. It occurs in Central America and North America. The species is a specialized predator of Curculionidae (weevil) beetles and nests in sandy substrates. Like other Cerceris species, it exhibits prey-specific hunting behavior, provisioning underground nests with paralyzed beetles for its larval offspring.
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 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.
Crabro latipes
Crabro latipes is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae, a group of solitary predatory wasps. The species was described by Frederick Smith in 1856. Like other members of the genus Crabro, it is a fossorial wasp that constructs burrows in soil to provision with prey for its developing young. The specific epithet "latipes" refers to broad feet, likely describing a morphological feature of the legs.
Crabronini
square-headed wasps
Crabronini is a tribe of solitary wasps in the family Crabronidae, comprising 48 genera and over 1,500 described species. Members are predominantly small to very small wasps characterized by square-shaped heads in most genera. The tribe exhibits diverse prey specialization, with most genera hunting flies (Diptera) while some, such as Anacrabro, target plant bugs (Hemiptera: Miridae). Nesting habits vary from ground burrows to cavities in rotting wood.
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 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.
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 rufipes
square-headed wasp
Ectemnius rufipes is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. The species is found in North America and is part of a genus of solitary, predatory wasps that typically hunt flies. Two subspecies are recognized: Ectemnius rufipes ais and the nominate Ectemnius rufipes rufipes.
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 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 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 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.
Euodynerus megaera
Euodynerus megaera is a solitary mason wasp in the family Vespidae, subfamily Eumeninae. The species was described by Lepeletier in 1841. Like other members of the genus, it is a predatory wasp that provisions nests with paralyzed caterpillars for its larval offspring.
Euparagia scutellaris
Euparagia scutellaris is a species of potter wasp in the family Vespidae, subfamily Masarinae. It is native to the western United States. The species was described by Cresson in 1879 and is currently treated as a synonym of Euparagia maculiceps by some authorities, though both names remain in use. Larvae are known to feed on weevil larvae.
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.
Harpactus pictifrons
Harpactus pictifrons is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by W. Fox in 1894. It belongs to the subfamily Bembicinae, a group of solitary wasps known for nesting in sandy soils and provisioning their larvae with paralyzed prey. The species is part of the genus Harpactus, which comprises small to medium-sized wasps with distinctive facial markings. Records indicate presence in North America, specifically in Canada including Alberta. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to be a predator of true bugs (Hemiptera), though direct observations of its biology are limited.
Lestiphorus cockerelli
Lestiphorus cockerelli is a sand wasp species in the family Crabronidae (formerly treated as Bembicidae). It is native to North America, with confirmed records from Canada (Alberta) and the United States. The species was described by Rohwer in 1909 and is part of the diverse sand wasp fauna curated at major entomological collections including the University of California, Riverside Entomology Research Museum.
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.
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.
Microbembex californica
Microbembex californica is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by R. Bohart in 1970. It belongs to a genus of small to medium-sized predatory wasps that inhabit sandy environments. Like other members of the Bembicinae, this species likely excavates burrows in soil and provisions them with prey for their larvae. The specific epithet "californica" indicates a geographic association with California.
Moniaecera
Moniaecera is a genus of solitary wasps in the family Crabronidae, established by William Harris Ashmead in 1899. It belongs to the tribe Crabronini within the subfamily Crabroninae, a group commonly known as sand wasps or digger wasps. The genus is poorly known, with extremely limited biological documentation and only three observations recorded on iNaturalist as of the available data. Members of Crabronidae are generally predatory, provisioning nests with paralyzed insects for their larvae.
Monobia arizonensis
Monobia arizonensis is a species of mason wasp in the subfamily Eumeninae. Like other members of the genus Monobia, it is presumed to be a solitary wasp that utilizes pre-existing cavities for nesting. The species is native to the southwestern United States, specifically Arizona. Very little specific information has been published about its biology compared to the better-known congener Monobia quadridens.
Oxybelus emarginatus
square-headed wasp
Oxybelus emarginatus is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1837. The genus Oxybelus comprises predatory wasps commonly known as 'fly hunters' that provision their nests with paralyzed flies for their larvae. This species is found in North America, with records from the United States and Canada including Alberta.