Sand-wasp
Guides
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.
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.
Podalonia
Cutworm Wasps
Podalonia is a genus of solitary, thread-waisted wasps in the family Sphecidae, commonly known as cutworm wasps. The genus contains approximately 67 described species distributed worldwide except South America. Females hunt soil-dwelling caterpillars (cutworms), paralyze them, and provision underground burrows with a single prey item per cell. Unlike most sphecid wasps, Podalonia females dig their burrow after capturing prey rather than before. The genus is most abundant in western North America.
Pterocheilus denticulatus
Pterocheilus denticulatus is a solitary mason wasp in the subfamily Eumeninae, characterized by fossorial nesting behavior in sandy or soft soils. Females excavate burrows using specialized morphological adaptations including a tarsal rake on the front feet and a psammophore—a "beard" of long setae on the palps used to transport excavated soil away from the nest entrance. The species was described by de Saussure in 1855 and belongs to a genus of approximately 40 North American species, most diverse in the southwestern United States.
Rhopalum atlanticum
Rhopalum atlanticum is a species of solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, described by R. Bohart in 1974. The genus Rhopalum comprises small, predatory wasps known as sand wasps that provision nests with paralyzed prey. This species occurs in North America and Middle America. Like other members of its genus, it likely excavates burrows in sandy soils and hunts small insects to provision larval cells.
Rysepyris subtilis
Rysepyris subtilis is a species of sand wasp in the family Bembicidae. The genus Rysepyris belongs to the tribe Bembicini, a group of solitary wasps known for their ground-nesting behavior and predatory habits. Species in this genus are poorly documented in the primary literature, with most information derived from museum specimens and taxonomic catalogs. The specific epithet 'subtilis' suggests subtle or delicate characteristics, though the precise morphological basis for this naming is not clearly documented in available sources.
Saygorytes phaleratus
Saygorytes phaleratus is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is found in Central America and North America. The species was originally described by Thomas Say in 1837. As a member of the sand wasp group, it is likely associated with sandy habitats where it hunts for prey to provision its nest.
Sphecius hogardii
Caribbean cicada killer, Caribbean Cicada-killer Wasp
Sphecius hogardii, commonly known as the Caribbean cicada killer, is a large solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is one of four North American species in the genus Sphecius, all of which specialize in hunting cicadas to provision underground nests. The species is found in the Caribbean region and extends into southern Florida. Like other cicada killers, females paralyze cicadas with venom and transport them to burrow cells as food for their developing larvae.
Steniolia elegans
sand wasp
Steniolia elegans is a solitary sand wasp in the family Crabronidae. Females dig burrows in dry, powdery soil and provision them with paralyzed flies for their single offspring. The species exhibits progressive provisioning, with females repeatedly hunting and delivering prey throughout larval development. Both sexes form dense, spherical sleeping clusters at night where mating occurs.
Steniolia eremica
Steniolia eremica is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, described by James E. Gillaspy in 1964. It is one of approximately fifteen species in the genus Steniolia, all of which are restricted to western North America. Males are larger than females and have been observed visiting thistle flowers and other nectar sources. The species is considered less abundant than congeners that share its range.
Steniolia obliqua
Steniolia obliqua is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, originally described as Monedula obliqua by Cresson in 1865. It belongs to a genus of fourteen North American species, all with western distributions. Like other Steniolia species, it is a solitary wasp that hunts flies to provision underground nests for its larvae. The species has been recorded in British Columbia, Canada.
Steniolia scolopacea
Steniolia scolopacea is a sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, distributed across Central America and North America. It belongs to a genus of fourteen North American species, all western in distribution. Two subspecies are recognized: S. s. albicantia and the nominate S. s. scolopacea. Like other Steniolia species, it is a solitary wasp that hunts flies as prey for its larvae.
Stictia
horse guards, cowfly tigers, insecto policia
Stictia is a genus of large, often brightly colored predatory sand wasps comprising approximately 30 species, primarily distributed in the Neotropics. The genus is best known for Stictia carolina, commonly called the "Horse Guard," which specializes in hunting horse flies around livestock. Females construct solitary nests in sandy soil, provisioning them with paralyzed flies to feed their larvae. These wasps are valued for their biological control of pest flies, though they are not commercially available. Males engage in aerial patrols and "sun dances" to locate females.
Stictia carolina
Horse Guard Wasp, Horse Guard, Cowfly Tiger, Insecto Policia
Stictia carolina, commonly known as the Horse Guard Wasp, is a large, colorful sand wasp native to eastern and central North America. This solitary wasp is a specialist predator of horse flies (Tabanidae), hunting around livestock and humans to capture its prey. Females excavate burrows in sandy soil where they provision a single cell with 15-35 flies for their larval offspring. Despite its intimidating appearance and persistent hovering behavior around horses, it is not aggressive toward humans and provides valuable biological control of biting flies.
Stictiella
Butterfly-wolf Wasps, sand wasps
Stictiella is a genus of sand wasps in the family Crabronidae, established by J. Parker in 1917. The genus comprises at least 14 described species distributed across North America. These solitary wasps are ground-nesting diggers that provision their nests with prey. The common name "Butterfly-wolf Wasps" reflects their documented habit of preying on lepidopteran larvae, particularly skippers (Hesperiidae) and noctuid moths (Noctuidae).
Stictiella emarginata
sand wasp
Stictiella emarginata is a solitary sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae. It constructs nests in sandy soils and provisions cells with lepidopteran larvae, primarily Noctuidae and Hesperiidae. The species occurs across eastern North America from northern Michigan to the Atlantic Coast, with a flight season concentrated in late June through early August. Nesting behavior includes temporary nest closure, mound leveling, and orientation flights.
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sand wasp
Stictiella formosa is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae. It is distributed across Central America and North America. As a member of the Bembicini tribe, it is likely associated with sandy habitats, though specific ecological details are poorly documented in available sources.
Stictiella villegasi
Algodones Sand Wasp
Stictiella villegasi, commonly known as the Algodones Sand Wasp, is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae (formerly Bembicidae). It is endemic to the Algodones Dunes in North America, indicating a highly restricted geographic range. The species was described by R. Bohart in 1982.
Stictiellina
Stictiellina is a subtribe of sand wasps in the family Crabronidae, containing at least 60 described species distributed across six genera. These wasps are solitary, ground-nesting predators that provision their burrows with paralyzed flies for their larval offspring. Members are known for their elongated mouthparts adapted for nectar feeding and are often observed visiting flowers. The subtribe was established by Bohart and Horning in 1971.
Stizoides
Stizoides is a genus of kleptoparasitic sand wasps in the family Crabronidae, containing approximately 30 described species globally. The genus is notable for its unique parasitic strategy: females exploit the food caches of other solitary wasps rather than hunting their own prey. Two species occur in North America—S. renicinctus (widespread in western North America) and S. foxi (restricted to Arizona and Mexico). Most species are found in Africa, Mediterranean Europe, the Middle East, and India.
Stizoides foxi
Fox's stizoide
Stizoides foxi is a kleptoparasitic sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, one of only two Stizoides species occurring in North America. This species is restricted to Arizona and southward into Mexico, where it parasitizes the food caches of other solitary wasps. Like its congener S. renicinctus, females locate and excavate the burrows of host wasps, destroy the host egg, and replace it with their own egg to exploit the provisioned prey. The species was described by Gillaspy in 1963 and remains poorly known compared to its more widespread relative.
Stizoides renicinctus
Stizoides renicinctus is a kleptoparasitic sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, one of only two species in its genus occurring in North America. The species has no common English name. It is known for its distinctive black body with a red or orange band on the second abdominal tergite, dark wings with translucent tips, and elongate build. Males are frequently observed visiting flowers for nectar, while females actively seek out the burrows of host wasps to exploit their food stores. The species exhibits unusual social behaviors including nighttime sleeping clusters and weather-related aggregations.
Stizus
sand wasps
Stizus is a genus of sand wasps in the family Crabronidae, containing over 100 species distributed across Europe, Africa, and North America. These solitary wasps are typically yellow and black, rarely reddish, and reach lengths of about 34 mm. Species nest in sandy soils and provision burrows with prey, primarily grasshoppers, to feed their larvae. Some species form nesting aggregations where males defend territories and engage in contest behavior to gain mating access to females.
Stizus brevipennis
Stizus brevipennis is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae (formerly placed in Bembicidae). It was described by Walsh in 1869 and is found in North America. The species has been documented in at least 128 observations on iNaturalist and has been collected in fermenting bait traps in Missouri.
Stizus occidentalis
Stizus occidentalis is a species of sand wasp described by J. Parker in 1929. It belongs to the family Crabronidae (sometimes historically referred to as Bembicidae), a group of solitary wasps known for nesting in soil and preying on other insects. The species occurs in North America. Like other members of the genus Stizus, it is presumed to be a predator that provisions its nests with paralyzed prey, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Stizus texanus
Stizus texanus is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by Cresson in 1873. It belongs to the tribe Stizini within the subfamily Bembicinae. The species is distributed in North America and Middle America, with museum holdings documented from the UCR Entomology Research Museum. As a member of the Crabronidae, it is likely a predatory wasp, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in available sources.
Tachytes aurulentus
square-headed wasp, green-eyed wasp, sand-loving wasp
Tachytes aurulentus is a species of solitary square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. Like other members of its genus, it is characterized by notably large green eyes, particularly in males. The species is part of a diverse North American assemblage of approximately 35 Tachytes species. These wasps are ground-nesting predators that provision their burrows with paralyzed orthopteran prey for their offspring.
Tanyoprymnus moneduloides
Tanyoprymnus moneduloides is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae. The species has been the subject of dedicated nesting biology research, with a 1981 study documenting its nest architecture and provisioning behavior. It is present in North America and Middle America according to distribution records. The species was originally described by Packard in 1867.
Trichapion troglodytes
Trichapion troglodytes is a species of sand wasp in the family Bembicidae. The species was originally described as Bembix troglodytes by Handlirsch. It is listed in the curated Bembicidae holdings of the UCR Entomology Research Museum, indicating it has been documented in North America. Beyond this collection record, specific biological details about this species remain poorly documented in available literature.
Zanysson plesius
Zanysson plesius is a species of wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae, first described by Rohwer in 1921. It belongs to the tribe Nyssonini, a group of sand wasps. The species is part of a genus containing at least three recognized species in North America, including Z. texanus and its subspecies. Specimens have been documented in museum collections, including holdings at the UCR Entomology Research Museum.