Waspwatchers
Guides
Arachnospila fumipennis
smoky-winged beetle bandit
Arachnospila fumipennis is a solitary ground-nesting spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, widely known under its former name Cerceris fumipennis. The species has gained significant attention as a biosurveillance tool for detecting emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) and other Buprestidae beetles. Females construct nests in sandy, well-packed soil and provision them with paralyzed beetles as food for their larvae. The species is notable for its highly specialized prey preference, though it occasionally captures non-buprestid prey.
Cerceris fumipennis
Smoky-winged Beetle Bandit Wasp
Cerceris fumipennis is a solitary, ground-nesting wasp and the only buprestid-hunting member of family Crabronidae in eastern North America. Females construct subterranean nests in hard-packed sandy soil and provision them exclusively with paralyzed jewel beetles (Buprestidae). The wasp has become a valuable biosurveillance tool for detecting the invasive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), as it efficiently locates and captures these beetles from distances up to 2 km from its nest. Citizen science programs known as "WaspWatchers" monitor wasp colonies to survey for pest beetles.