Weevil-predator
Guides
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 bicornuta
Cerceris bicornuta is a solitary digger wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is a large species with distinctive orange and white markings, occurring throughout much of North America with particular abundance in the southeastern United States. The species is a specialist predator of weevils in the genus Sphenophorus, which it paralyzes with its sting and provisions in underground nests for its offspring.
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.
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.