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 | |
Great Golden Digger (Sphex ichneumoneus) with male Polistes metricus (Vespidae) back right Powerline clearing in Jones Co., NC 21 Oct 2007 |
grass-carrying wasp (Isodontia sp.) Powerline clearing in Jones Co., NC 21 Oct 2007 |
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. | |
Great Black Wasp (Sphex pensylvanicus) Craven Co., NC 26 Aug 2007 |
Ammophila sp. Mono Co., just east of Tioga Pass, CA 16 July 2007 This sphecid found a juicy caterpillar for lunch | |
Ammophila sp. Mono Co., just east of Tioga Pass, CA 16 July 2007 | |
Ammophila sp. Mono Co., just east of Tioga Pass, CA 16 July 2007 |
probably Ammophila sp. Jones Co., NC 19 July 2008 |
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! | |
probably a Sphex sp. Pender Co., NC 13 Sep 2009 | |
probably a Sphex sp. Pender Co., NC 13 Sep 2009 | |
probably a Sphex sp. Pender Co., NC 13 Sep 2009 | |
Eastern Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus) Durham Co., NC 5 July 2010 Two cicada killers in a tussle... | |
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. | |
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. | |
Eastern Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus) Durham Co., NC 5 July 2010 | |
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! |
Thread-waisted Wasp (Eremnophila aureonotata) Durham Co., NC 8 Sep 2010 |
Created on ... Oct 26, 2007 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com