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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#2391638
Sphecius speciosus - female
Copyright © 2024 Chris Kreussling (Flatbush Gardener)

Sphecius speciosus - Female
Flatbush, Kings County, New York, USA
August 12, 2024
A *behavioral* observation.

This individual emerged from the nest entrance, then - rather than flying off in search of a juicy Cicada - it "groomed" the tailing around the entrance, walking back and forth over it and seeming to tamp it down with its legs. You can see in the photos that the front tarsi are bent under, so it's tamping down with its "ankles/wrists".

I've never seen, nor heard of, this behavior before.

Also, is this a male, rather than a female?

Eastern Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus) "grooming" nest entrance along my driveway, August 2024

iNaturalist Observation

Images of this individual: tag all
Sphecius speciosus - female Sphecius speciosus - female Sphecius speciosus - female
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Contributed by Chris Kreussling (Flatbush Gardener) on 16 August, 2024 - 12:24pm
Last updated 16 August, 2024 - 3:01pm

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Bob Biagi, 16 August, 2024 - 3:01pm login or register to post comments

Female
This sounds like all-female behavior. (tending the burrow) The only thing that would make a male try to dig anything is the smell of a fresh female.
… Bob Biagi, 16 August, 2024 - 2:24pm login or register to post comments

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