Sand Wasps
What are they?
Typically-striped, black-and-yellow or black-and-white wasps that are solitary species, making burrows in sandy ground and preying on a variety of other insects. Many species have fascinating lifestyles, with males defending territories and females prowling for prey. Very beneficial species to humans, with a number of 'pest' insects often selected as prey.
Identification
Take careful note of leg color, abdomen markings and face pattern.
Horse Guard Wasp Stictia carolina
A widespread and relatively large species with rather pale, off-white, broken bands on the abdomen. This species gets its English name from its habit of hanging out around horses (and cattle), where it specializes in hunting down horse flies to feed to its larvae.
| |
 |
 |
| |
Common Sand Wasp Bembix americana
A widespread, medium-sized wasp that may be found nectaring at a wide range of flowers, or attending to nest burrows in bare sand.
| |
| |
Ectemnius decemmaculatus
A medium-sized wasp with a noticeably large, square head and very little pale coloring on the face. Nests are usually made in hollow twigs or plant stems, and the young are fed on paralyzed flies.
 |
 |
 |
| |
Eastern Cicada-killer Sphecius speciosus
A large and impressive wasp that can instill fear in the observer but, like so many of the solitary wasps, it is extremely unlikely to bother the observer. Most often seen along coastal dunes, where complex tunnels are dug into the sand. As the name suggests, this species specializes in hunting down cicadas, which are generally caught in flight.
| |
 |
 |
| |