This is a medium-sized black wasp approximately 1/2 – 5/8 inch or 13 – 17 mm in length. The green eyes are distinctive for the genus. The antennae are black. The legs and wings are a tawny color. There are short, golden hairs on the thorax and head.
This is an uncommon wasp in Fontenelle Forest. It has been photographed in Fontenelle Forest in mid-July nectaring on Swamp Milkweed in the restored wetlands butterfly garden and in Neale Woods in mid-August nectaring on Snow-on-the-mountain in the butterfly garden.
This is a solitary “sand-loving wasp” in the subfamily Crabroninae, Square-headed Wasps. The female digs burrows with several individual cells in sand and provisions her nest with paralyzed grasshoppers and katydids. She lays an egg in each and then seals the cell. Males are often more numerous than females and sometimes form leks with loose congregations from which females can select a mate.
The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Loren Padelford.