A dark brown medium-sized wasp about 3/4 inch (20 mm) long. It has green eyes, distinctive for this genus. Legs, thorax and abdomen are dark brown. The abdomen has two partial white bands between segments two and three. Wings are light brown, darker at the apex.
This wasp is found throughout eastern U.S., Central America and northern South America. It is considered to be uncommon in eastern Nebraska. The individual shown was photographed in September 2009 in Fontenelle Forest.
There are 34 species in the genus Tachytes. Most are similar in appearance and are also known as sand-loving wasps. They capture grasshoppers and katydids to provision their underground nest chamber.
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.