Prey-theft

Guides

• Podalonia argentifrons

  cutworm wasp

  Podalonia argentifrons is a species of thread-waisted wasp in the family Sphecidae, subfamily Ammophilinae. Like other members of its genus, it is a solitary hunting wasp that preys on soil-dwelling caterpillars ('cutworms'), paralyzing them to provision underground burrows for its larvae. The species occurs across North America, the Caribbean, and Middle America. Females are active in early spring and may overwinter as adults, emerging on warm winter days to hunt.

  solitary-waspcutworm-hunterthread-waisted-waspearly-springoverwintering-adultprey-theftaggregation-behavior