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BugGuide Gathering
Smoky Mountains
University of Tennessee Biological Field Station
August 8-10, 2008
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Photos from the last gathering (Minnesota 2007)

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Photo#9445
white-ribboned wasp - Bembix

white-ribboned wasp - Bembix
Thedford Conservation Area, Lambton, Ontario, Canada
September 20, 2004
Size: about 12 mm
On asters in an open sandy area. I saw a couple of similar photos in the Guide in the Digger Wasps category. The wavy white bands and unmarked back look close to pictures of Bembix on the web (1, 2).

Bembix sand wasp
Nice job with the ID, Robin. Females have a "tarsal rake" of prominent spines on the front tibia ("shins"), while males lack this feature. Bembix feed their offspring paralyzed flies on an "as needed" basis, much as birds feed their nestlings. They close the nest between visits, using subtle landmarks to find it again. (and we can't remember where we parked the car...:-)

 
Bembix sand wasp
Thanks for the ID confirmation and the extra behavioral info - always good to know.

 
Bembix americana spinolae
Looks like B. americana spinolae.

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