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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Bees, Ants, and other Stinging Wasps » Apoid Wasps (Apoidea)- traditional Sphecidae » Thread-waisted Wasps (Sphecidae) » Sphex » Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus)
Photo#319261
Orange and Black Wasp - Sphex ichneumoneus
Copyright © 2009 Janine McDermott

Orange and Black Wasp - Sphex ichneumoneus
Gloiucester, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA
August 11, 2009
Size: approx. 1 inch
Watched this large wasp choose location in my garden and started digging away-removing bark, pebbles, and sand with such ease. I had never seen anything like it. About an hour later, I noticed a hole with about a 1/2 inch diameter in ground.

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Orange and Black Wasp - Sphex ichneumoneus Orange and Black Wasp - Sphex ichneumoneus Orange and Black Wasp - Sphex ichneumoneus
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Contributed by Janine McDermott on 12 August, 2009 - 2:49pm
Last updated 17 September, 2009 - 12:13pm

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Eric R. Eaton, 17 September, 2009 - 12:13pm login or register to post comments

Gold Digger?
Looks like a Gold Digger Wasp. I read about them after posting some images; the dig burrows in sandy soil and place a paralyzed cricket etc in it, then plant and egg on the food source. This wold explain the digging behaviour. Hopefully an expert will either concur... or correct me.
… Michael Battenberg, 12 August, 2009 - 2:57pm login or register to post comments

 
i agree with the ID - Sphex ichneumoneus
I don't claim to be an expert, but.. I do have a shot of the same, digging - great golden digger



… Andrew Williams, 12 August, 2009 - 5:35pm login or register to post comments

Might this be...
The Great Golden Digger?
… Andrew Meeds, 12 August, 2009 - 2:56pm login or register to post comments

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