by Jeffrey S. Pippen | Back to Jeff's Miscellaneous Invertebrates Page | Jeff's Nature Pages
Sphecid wasps have long, stalked abdomen, giving them a thread-waisted appearance. Adults feed mostly on nectar, sap, and fluids of prey items (various other arthropods) that they stock the nest with for their larvae to feed on.![]() |
Great Golden Digger (Sphex ichneumoneus) Powerline clearing in Jones Co., NC 21 Oct 2007 |
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Great Golden Digger (Sphex ichneumoneus) with male Polistes metricus (Vespidae) back right Powerline clearing in Jones Co., NC 21 Oct 2007 |
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grass-carrying wasp (Isodontia sp.) Powerline clearing in Jones Co., NC 21 Oct 2007 |
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Great Black Wasp (Sphex pensylvanicus) Craven Co., NC 26 Aug 2007 Although it didn't show up in these photos, this wasp's wings have a violet sheen in the right light. |
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Great Black Wasp (Sphex pensylvanicus) Craven Co., NC 26 Aug 2007 |
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Ammophila sp. Mono Co., just east of Tioga Pass, CA 16 July 2007 This sphecid found a juicy caterpillar for lunch |
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Ammophila sp. Mono Co., just east of Tioga Pass, CA 16 July 2007 |
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Ammophila sp. Mono Co., just east of Tioga Pass, CA 16 July 2007 |
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probably Ammophila sp. Jones Co., NC 19 July 2008 |
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probably a Sphex sp. Pender Co., NC 13 Sep 2009 This active, large black and gold wasp with a glowing gold face was quite striking! |
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probably a Sphex sp. Pender Co., NC 13 Sep 2009 |
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probably a Sphex sp. Pender Co., NC 13 Sep 2009 |
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probably a Sphex sp. Pender Co., NC 13 Sep 2009 |
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Eastern Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus) Durham Co., NC 5 July 2010 Two cicada killers in a tussle... |
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Eastern Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus) Durham Co., NC 5 July 2010 These very large wasps live in the ground and attack cicadas, using them to feed their young. |
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Eastern Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus) Durham Co., NC 5 July 2010 Common in eastern North America at the edge of woods, gardens, waste places, etc. |
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Eastern Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus) Durham Co., NC 5 July 2010 |
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Eastern Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus) Durham Co., NC 5 July 2010 The tussle finally ended with one flying off and this one lying here for about 10 seconds before righting itself and flying off, too! |
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Thread-waisted Wasp (Eremnophila aureonotata) Durham Co., NC 8 Sep 2010 |
Created on ... Oct 26, 2007 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com