Solitary-wasp
Guides
Dielis trifasciata trifasciata
Three-banded Scoliid Wasp
Dielis trifasciata trifasciata is a subspecies of scoliid wasp in the family Scoliidae. Scoliid wasps are solitary, parasitoid wasps known for their robust bodies and distinctive coloration patterns. The specific epithet 'trifasciata' refers to the three-banded appearance typical of this taxon. Members of the genus Dielis are found in the Americas and are associated with scarab beetle larvae as hosts.
Dilophotopsis
Dilophotopsis is a genus of velvet ants (Mutillidae) in the order Hymenoptera. The genus was established by Schuster in 1958. As with other mutillids, members are solitary wasps with wingless females and winged males. One species, D. concolor crassa, has been documented with host associations.
Diodontus
Diodontus is a genus of solitary aphid-hunting wasps in the family Crabronidae (subfamily Pemphredoninae). Species are distributed across Europe, Africa, and North America. The genus includes cryptic species that can be morphologically nearly identical but ecologically differentiated, as demonstrated by D. argillicola and D. tristis, which are separated primarily by nesting substrate preference (clay versus sand) rather than visible morphology. Females construct nest tunnels in soil or substrate and provision them with paralyzed aphids as larval food.
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.
Dipogon
spider wasps
Dipogon is a genus of small spider wasps (Pompilidae) characterized by ant-mimicking dark-banded wings and a distinctive 'beard' of hairs on the maxillary palps used to transport nesting materials. These solitary wasps are primarily forest-dwelling, hunting spiders on tree trunks and constructing multi-celled nests in pre-existing tubular cavities such as beetle tunnels or hollow plant stems. The genus exhibits notable behavioral plasticity in nest construction, using mud, leaf fragments, insect parts, and even stolen bee provisions to form cell partitions.
Dipogon calipterus
spider wasp
Dipogon calipterus is a small spider wasp in the family Pompilidae. Females hunt spiders on tree trunks, sting them into paralysis, and provision underground nests with them. The species exhibits ant-mimicry through dark wing bands and is rarely observed due to its cryptic appearance and behavior. Three subspecies are recognized with scattered distributions across eastern and southern North America.
Dipogon calipterus nubifer
Dipogon calipterus nubifer is a subspecies of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, recognized as a valid taxon by Catalogue of Life and GBIF. As part of the Dipogon calipterus species complex, it shares the general biology of this ant-mimicking wasp group: females hunt spiders to provision nest cells in pre-existing cavities, while males perch to defend territories. The subspecies is distinguished from other D. calipterus subspecies by slight differences in color and pattern.
Dipogon fulleri
Dipogon fulleri is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, described by Krombein in 1962. The species was originally placed in the genus Winnemanella and later transferred to Dipogon. As a member of the genus Dipogon, it shares the characteristic ant-mimicking appearance created by dark bands on the wings. Like other Dipogon species, females hunt spiders to provision nests in pre-existing cavities. The species is known from limited records and appears to be poorly documented in the literature.
Dipogon graenicheri graenicheri
Dipogon graenicheri graenicheri is a subspecies of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, described by Banks in 1939. As with other members of the genus Dipogon, it is a predator of spiders, hunting on tree trunks in forested habitats. The subspecies is part of a group characterized by dark-banded wings that provide ant-mimicry camouflage.
Dipogon sayi
spider wasp
Dipogon sayi is a solitary spider wasp in the family Pompilidae that nests in pre-existing cavities (trap-nests). It is known from the northeastern United States, with the easternmost records from Maine. The species provisions its nests with paralyzed spiders, particularly crab spiders (Thomisidae), as food for its larvae.
Dolichodynerus
Dolichodynerus is a Nearctic genus of potter wasps (subfamily Eumeninae) established by Bohart in 1939. The genus contains three recognized species: D. tanynotus, D. turgiceps, and D. vandykei. These solitary wasps construct mud nests and provision them with paralyzed caterpillars for their larvae.
Dolichodynerus vandykei
Dolichodynerus vandykei is a species of potter wasp in the family Vespidae, described by Bohart in 1950. It belongs to the genus Dolichodynerus, which is characterized by elongated body proportions. The species epithet honors the entomologist Edwin C. Van Dyke, whose name appears in multiple other insect species. As a member of the Eumeninae subfamily, it is a solitary wasp that constructs nest cells from mud.
Dolichurus greenei
cockroach wasp
Dolichurus greenei is a species of cockroach wasp in the family Ampulicidae. It is a solitary hunting wasp that preys on cockroaches. The species was described by Rohwer in 1916 and is known from North America.
Dryudella
Dryudella is a genus of solitary digger wasps in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Astatinae, containing over 50 described species distributed across the Holarctic region. These small wasps (typically under 10 mm) are specialized predators of true bugs (Hemiptera), with females constructing nest burrows in sandy soils to provision their offspring. Males exhibit distinctive holoptic eyes that meet at the top of the head and possess broad hind wings that enable rapid flight from perches on twigs and stems. The genus shows sexual habitat segregation, with females typically in shaded nesting areas and males in sunny locations.
Dryudella caerulea
Dryudella caerulea is a solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Astatinae. It is one of approximately ten North American species in the genus Dryudella. Females are fossorial, excavating nest burrows in soil, and provision nests with paralyzed true bugs (Hemiptera) as food for their larvae. The species is found in arid habitats of western North America and Central America. Males possess holoptic eyes that meet at the top of the head and broader hind wings than females, adaptations associated with their rapid, darting flight behavior while perching on vegetation to detect mates and rivals.
Ectemnius
Ectemnius is a large genus of solitary digger wasps in the family Crabronidae, comprising approximately 188 species distributed worldwide except for limited representation in Australia. Species are characterized by black bodies with yellow markings and nest construction in dead wood cavities. They provision nests with paralyzed flies for their larvae.
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 centralis
square-headed wasp
Ectemnius centralis is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. The species is distributed across the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. Like other members of the genus Ectemnius, it is a solitary wasp. Detailed biological information for this species is limited in available sources.
Ectemnius cephalotes
Large Ectemnius
Ectemnius cephalotes is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is a solitary, fossorial wasp that constructs underground nests. The species has a broad distribution spanning Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. It is one of the larger members of the genus Ectemnius, which comprises approximately 80 species worldwide.
Ectemnius decemmaculatus
Ectemnius decemmaculatus is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. It occurs in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. As a member of the genus Ectemnius, it belongs to a group of solitary wasps that provision nests with prey for their offspring. The species was first described by Thomas Say in 1823.
Ectemnius dilectus
Ectemnius dilectus is a solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, tribe Crabronini. It belongs to a genus of digger wasps that primarily prey on flies (Diptera), distinguishing them from related genera such as Anacrabro that hunt plant bugs. The species is recorded in North America, with distribution records from Canada including Alberta. As a member of Crabronini, it is fossorial, constructing underground nests for rearing offspring.
Ectemnius dives
Ectemnius dives is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is found across Europe and Northern Asia (excluding China), North America, and Southern Asia. As a member of the genus Ectemnius, it belongs to a group of solitary wasps that typically nest in wood and provision their nests with prey for their larvae.
Ectemnius maculosus
square-headed wasp
Ectemnius maculosus is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. Its native range encompasses much of the eastern United States and southeasternmost Canada. The species has been reported from outside its native range in North America, Europe, and northern Asia, though these populations may represent adventive introductions. Like other members of the genus Ectemnius, this species is a solitary wasp that provisions nests with prey for its larvae.
Ectemnius paucimaculatus
Ectemnius paucimaculatus is a solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, tribe Crabronini. The genus Ectemnius includes species that are morphologically similar to other crabronine wasps such as Anacrabro, Lestica, and Crabro. Members of this genus are distinguished from close relatives by abdominal characters. Specific biological details for E. paucimaculatus remain poorly documented in published sources.
Ectemnius ruficornis
square-headed wasp
Ectemnius ruficornis is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is a solitary, fossorial wasp that constructs underground nests. The species has two recognized subspecies: E. r. ruficornis (Zetterstedt, 1838) and E. r. taiwanus Tsuneki, 1968. It has been recorded across Europe, Northern Asia, North America, and Southern Asia.
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.
Ectemnius rufipes ais
Ectemnius rufipes ais is a subspecies of digger wasp described by Pate in 1946. It belongs to the family Crabronidae, a group of solitary wasps known for nesting in soil or wood and provisioning their young with paralyzed prey. As a member of the genus Ectemnius, it is part of a diverse lineage of crabronid wasps distributed across multiple continents. The subspecies designation indicates geographic or morphological differentiation within the broader E. rufipes species complex.
Ectemnius sonorensis
square-headed wasp
Ectemnius sonorensis is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. It was described by Cameron in 1891. The species is known from Central America. Like other members of the genus Ectemnius, it is a solitary wasp that provisions nests with prey for its larvae.
Ectemnius stirpicola
square-headed wasp
Ectemnius stirpicola is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is native to North America, with records from Canada including Alberta. Like other members of the genus Ectemnius, it belongs to the tribe Crabronini, a group of solitary wasps that provision nests with prey for their larvae.
Ectemnius trifasciatus
Ectemnius trifasciatus is a solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, originally described by Thomas Say in 1824 under the basionym Crabro trifasciatus. As a member of the genus Ectemnius, it is part of a group of digger wasps known to nest in wood and provision their young with paralyzed flies. The species is recorded from North America, with specific observations from Alberta, Canada.
Enicospilus purgatus
Ophionine ichneumon wasp
Enicospilus purgatus is a species of ichneumon wasp in the subfamily Ophioninae. It is a large, gangly wasp typically orange in coloration with long antennae and large ocelli arranged in a triangle on the head. Unlike the related genus Netelia, E. purgatus has a very short ovipositor that is often not readily visible. The species is nocturnal and frequently attracted to artificial lights. It is a solitary parasitoid wasp with females capable of stinging when handled.
Entomognathus
Entomognathus is a genus of solitary wasps in the family Crabronidae. The genus contains at least 40 species distributed across multiple zoogeographic regions including the Palearctic, Nearctic, Ethiopian, Oriental, and Neotropical realms. Nesting behavior has been documented for relatively few species, with E. brevis being the most thoroughly studied. The genus was historically placed in Sphecidae but is currently classified within Crabronidae.
Entypus
Entypus is a genus of spider wasps (family Pompilidae) comprising at least 40 described species. These solitary wasps are known from the Americas, with records extending from the United States to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Members of this genus are parasitoids that hunt spiders to provision nests for their offspring. The genus includes recently described species such as E. renata from Brazil.
Entypus aratus
Entypus aratus is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, described by Townes in 1957. Members of this genus are solitary wasps that hunt spiders as prey for their larvae. The species is known from a small number of observations, suggesting it may be uncommon or underrecorded.
Entypus unifasciatus
spider wasp
Entypus unifasciatus is a spider wasp species in the family Pompilidae. Females hunt large spiders, paralyze them with venom, and provision underground burrows as food for their developing larvae. The species exhibits a broad transcontinental distribution across the Americas. Adults display distinctive coloration with black bodies, bluish sheen, yellow antennae, and variable orange-banded wings.
Entypus unifasciatus unifasciatus
Entypus unifasciatus unifasciatus is a subspecies of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae. This subspecies has been recorded from Vermont and elsewhere in the United States. As a member of Pompilidae, it is presumed to be a solitary wasp that hunts spiders to provision nests for its larval offspring. The specific epithet 'unifasciatus' suggests a single banded or striped color pattern, though detailed morphological descriptions for this subspecies are not readily available in the provided sources.
Ephuta spinifera
Ephuta spinifera is a species of velvet ant (family Mutillidae), a group of solitary wasps known for their dense, velvety pubescence and aposematic coloration. Like other mutillids, females are wingless and often mistaken for ants, while males are winged. The genus Ephuta is part of the diverse North American velvet ant fauna, though specific biological details for E. spinifera remain poorly documented in published literature.
Ephuta stenognatha
Ephuta stenognatha is a species of velvet ant (Mutillidae), a family of solitary wasps in which females are wingless and often brightly colored. The species is part of a genus distributed primarily in North America. Like other mutillids, females are known for their extremely painful sting, a defensive adaptation. The species is relatively poorly documented in published literature.
Epinysson basilaris
Epinysson basilaris is a species of solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae (formerly placed in Bembicidae). The species was described by Cresson in 1882 and is distributed across Central America and North America. As a member of the Nyssonini tribe, it belongs to a group of kleptoparasitic or predatory wasps whose biology remains incompletely documented.
Epinysson bellus
Epinysson bellus is a species of digger wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae, tribe Nyssonini. The species was first described by Cresson in 1882. It belongs to a group of solitary wasps that are part of the diverse nyssonine lineage within the Bembicinae. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a kleptoparasite or predator associated with other ground-nesting wasps, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Episyron biguttatus californicum
Episyron biguttatus californicum is a subspecies of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae. As a member of the genus Episyron, it belongs to a group of solitary wasps specialized in hunting spiders as prey for their larvae. The subspecies epithet 'californicum' indicates a geographic association with California. Like other pompilid wasps, females paralyze spiders with their sting and provision underground burrows for their offspring.
Episyronini
Episyronini is a tribe of spider wasps within the family Pompilidae. Members are solitary wasps that hunt spiders to provision nests for their larvae. The tribe is distinguished by morphological features of the mesosoma and wing venation. Episyronini species are primarily found in the Americas, with some extending into other regions. They represent a well-supported monophyletic group within the subfamily Pepsinae.
Epomidiopteron
Epomidiopteron is a genus of solitary wasps in the family Tiphiidae, established by Romand in 1835. Members of this genus are parasitoid wasps, with females laying eggs on or near scarab beetle larvae that serve as hosts for their developing young. The genus is relatively poorly documented compared to other tiphiid genera, with limited species-level taxonomic revision in recent decades.
Epomidiopteron julii
A species of wasp in the family Tiphiidae. This species has been documented in multiple Brazilian states, with 42 observations recorded on iNaturalist. Members of Tiphiidae are generally solitary wasps, and many are parasitoids of scarab beetle larvae.
Eremnophila
thread-waisted wasps
Eremnophila is a genus of solitary thread-waisted wasps in the family Sphecidae, comprising approximately nine described species distributed primarily across the Americas. These wasps are specialized caterpillar hunters that provision subterranean nests with paralyzed prey for their larvae. Adults are frequent flower visitors, particularly to spotted horsemint (Monarda punctata), goldenrods, and other late-summer asters. A distinctive behavioral trait involves prolonged tandem mating, where males grasp females by the neck and accompany them during foraging activities.
Eucerceris
weevil wasps
Eucerceris is a genus of solitary wasps in the family Crabronidae, containing over 40 described species. These wasps are commonly known as 'weevil wasps' due to their specialized predatory relationship with weevils (Curculionidae). The genus has been subject of taxonomic study by specialists including George R. Ferguson, who completed work on the group begun by Herm Scullen. Species are found in North America and are active during warm months when their prey is available.
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 canaliculata
Eucerceris canaliculata is a species of solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae (formerly placed in Philanthidae). It belongs to the tribe Cercerini, commonly known as weevil wasps, which specialize in hunting weevils and other beetles to provision their nests. The species is found in North America and is one of multiple Eucerceris species recorded from the region.
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 provancheri
Eucerceris provancheri is a species of solitary wasp in the tribe Cercerini (Philanthinae, Crabronidae). Like other members of the genus Eucerceris, it is a weevil wasp that hunts weevils (Curculionidae) to provision nests for its larvae. The species occurs in Central America and North America.