Digger Wasp


Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Wikipedia.

Digger Wasp

 

(Philanthus triangulum), a solitary wasp of the Sphecidae family. Body length, 12-16 mm.

The adult digger wasp feeds on flowers. The female builds a vertical burrow approximately 1 m deep with chambers on the sides where the larvae develop. The wasp preys on honeybees, killing them and bringing them back to the nest to feed the larvae. During its development, a larva will eat four to six bees. Settling in large colonies near apiaries, digger wasps may be detrimental to beekeeping.

Mentioned in ?
References in periodicals archive ?
Studies on the larvae of digger wasps (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) Part V: Conclusion.
Further studies on the larvae of digger wasps (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae).
Last instar larva of Penepodium dubium (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)
Factors affecting body size and fat content in a digger wasp.
Though these results differ from those reported in other studies of Sphecius, size-specific provisioning has been observed in other mass-provisioning, Crabronid wasps such as the digger wasps Cerceris arenaria L.
Size-specific provisioning by cicada killers, Sphecius speciosus, (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) in north Florida
Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and locally-based JCB are working together to help save rare digger wasps in the Midlands from extinction.
Digger wasps and their mining bee cousins can dig one hundred times faster in relative terms than their mechanical namesakes, moving many times their own weight in only a few hours.
Digger wasps are solitary creatures who use their feet to carve out nests up to half a metre deep in sandy and chalky areas.
JCBs dig in to help wasps
Ethological studies on digger wasps of the genus Astata (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae).
Attraction of female digger wasps, Astata occidentalis Cresson (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) to the sex pheromone of the stink bug Thyanta pallidovirens (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).
A chemical lure for stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is used as a kairomone by Astata occidentalis (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)

Encyclopedia browser ?
Full browser ?