Species Sphecius grandis - Western Cicada-killer Wasp

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Identification · Range · Food · Print References · Works Cited

A clearer image of one of the cicada killers - Sphecius grandis - male

Western Cicada Killer? - Sphecius grandis

It looks like a yellow and black vespid but has much vivid red as well - Sphecius grandis

Possible hybrid Western x Eastern Cicada Killer - Sphecius grandis

Wasp1July2020BigPine,CA - Sphecius grandis

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)

No Taxon (Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps)

No Taxon (Apoidea (minus Anthophila) - Apoid Wasps)

Family Crabronidae (Square-headed Wasps, Sand Wasps, and Allies)

Subfamily Bembicinae

Tribe Bembicini (Sand Wasps)

Subtribe Spheciina

Genus Sphecius (Cicada-killer Wasps)

Species grandis (Western Cicada-killer Wasp)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Sphecius grandis (Say, 1823)

Orig. Comb: Stizus grandis Say, 1823

Identification

Punctation density in the middle of T1 and T2 is approximately equal in S. grandis (photo below). This is noticeably less dense on T2 compared to T1 in S. convallis.(1)

Antennal segments II-IV are curved ventrally (at the tyloids/ sensory organs) in S. grandis, so the segments looking more bead-like (photo below). In S. convallis antennal segments II-IV are not curved ventrally, and are tube-like.(1)

Specimens often, but not always, have more extensive yellow markings than in S. convallis.(1)

Range

w. US to c. TX (CA-TX-NE-WA) / s. to C. Amer. - Map (2)

Food

Adults feed on nectar. Females hunt cicadas to provision their offspring.

Print References

Holliday, C.W., and J.R. Coelho. 2006. Improved Key to New World Species of Sphecius (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 99(5):793-798.

Works Cited

1.	Improved key to New World species of Sphecius (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) Holliday C.W., Coelho J.R. 2006. Ann. Ent. Soc. Am. 99: 793-798.

2.	Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)

Contributed by Hartmut Wisch on 30 January, 2008 - 5:28pm
Additional contributions by Lynette Elliott, Mike Quinn, PaleoJon
Last updated 27 May, 2021 - 12:53pm

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