Species Ammophila pictipennis

Ammophila pictipennis Walsh, 1869.

Ammophila anomala Taschenberg, 1869

Sphex nigropilosus Rohwer, 1912

Species name from Latin pictus (painted, ornamental), and Greek pennis, (feather, by extension wing). Refers to the pattern on the wings. (Based on Internet searches.)

A very conspicuous eastern species with brightly-pigmented orange wings and no silvery markings on the thorax whatsoever. In the west, see also A. placida, which is separated by the structure of the male genitalia. Those of A. pictipennis lack a spine on the penis valve head. The two species overlap from about 96° to 104°W, where they are otherwise impossible to separate.(1)

Eastern United States to 104°W, south into Mexico.(1)

Seen at flowers in fields.

June-October (Michigan), May-October (North Carolina)

Adult takes nectar.

Parasitoid of caterpillars. Prey include Noctuid larvae, mostly cutworms. Prey are placed in a shallow nest that has one cell.

Ammophila placida are identical in coloration and only separated based on male genitalia. Males of A. placita have a spine on the penis valve head. Females are physically identical and not separable apart from associated males.(1)

Ammophila fernaldi are also similar in coloration with yellow-to-orangish wings in the eastern US. Females have the mesopleuron and hypoepimeron smooth and shining as opposed to dull in both other species.