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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Apoidea sans Anthophila – Apoid Wasps » Square-headed Wasps, Sand Wasps, and Allies (Crabronidae) » Bembicinae » Sand Wasps (Bembicini) » Spheciina » Cicada-killer Wasps (Sphecius) » Eastern Cicada-killer Wasp (Sphecius speciosus)
Photo#210419
firepit dragon - Sphecius speciosus - female
Copyright © 2008 jeff b

firepit dragon - Sphecius speciosus - Female
Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Michigan, USA
August 4, 2008
Size: 3 inches long, inch dia.
Found this in the ashes of my firepit, under a partially burned piece of cherry wood. there were initially 2 together, but one flew off when i rolled the log over. they could have been attracted to the wood, which was ant-infested, there had been a small fire in the pit the night b4.. weather lately has been 80's and humid. the posterior body was striped much like a hornet or wasp. built a new fire in the pit,, this guy didn't seem to want to leave, even with increasing heat..

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firepit dragon - Sphecius speciosus - female firepit dragon - Sphecius speciosus - female
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Contributed by jeff b on 5 August, 2008 - 1:24pm
Last updated 30 January, 2010 - 9:41am

This is a Cicada Killer
Info in the guide here. She was likely looking for a nice spot to dig her nest tunnel.
… john and jane balaban, 5 August, 2008 - 2:12pm login or register to post comments

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