Family Sphecidae - Thread-waisted Wasps

classification here follows(1)

127 spp. in 11 genera in our area(2), almost 800 spp. in 18 genera worldwide(3) • 21 spp. in Canada(4) • 44 in e. US(5) • MI list(6) • FL list

Overview of our fauna:

Subfamily Sceliphrinae

Subfamily Chloriontinae Chlorion

Subfamily Sphecinae

Subfamily Ammophilinae Ammophila, Eremnophila, Podalonia

Body 10‒30 mm

Abdomen long and stalked (petiolate), giving the body a "thread-waisted" appearance; middle tibiae with two apical spurs; body may be all black (sometimes tinged with metallic blue or green), black and red, yellow and black, or white and black. Males have no tarsal rake, 11 flagellomeres, and 7 gastral segments. Females have a tarsal rake, 10 flagellomeres, and 6 gastral segments.

Overview of Wing Venation

Sceliphrinae

Chloriontinae

Sphecinae

   

Ammophilinae

   

Much of the world

Most species nest in the ground, usually in areas with sparse or no vegetation; some build aerial nests of mud; a few nest in hollow stems or abandoned bee burrows in logs • see (7)

Larvae feed on paralyzed arthropods (host varies according to wasp species) provided by adult; common hosts include spiders, grasshoppers, and caterpillars. Adults feed on nectar from flowers and extrafloral nectaries, honeydew, and body fluids of their prey.

most are solitary nesters; some are kleptoparasitic, feeding their larvae with prey caught by other wasps • see (7)