Sphecidae Collection

Cretaceous of Brazil, prehistoric scene C013 / 7112
Cretaceous of Brazil. Artwork of a coastal lagoon scene reconstructed from fossils in the Crato Formation of Brazil (108 million years ago, during the Cretaceous)

Emerald Cockroach Wasp or Jewel Wasp (Ampulex compressa), side view, close up

Four-spotted Digger Wasp (Crossocerus quadrimaculatus) adult, resting on leaf, Norfolk, England, August

Field Digger Wasp (Mellinus arvensis) capturing Fly, close up

Jewel Wasp or Emerald Cockroach Wasp (Ampulex compressa), with green and brown body and translucent wings, close-up

Cockroach-hunting or Jewel Wasp, Ampulex compressa, on a stick

Mud dauber wasp C016 / 2290
Mud dauber wasp (Stizus continuus). Mud daubers are solitary wasps that build nests made of mud. Specimen obtained from the University of Valencia, Spain

Mud dauber wasp C016 / 2291
Mud dauber wasp (Stizus continuus) with its wings spread. Mud daubers are solitary wasps that build nests made of mud. Specimen obtained from the University of Valencia, Spain

Mud dauber wasp C016 / 2161
Mud dauber wasp (Sceliphron sp.). Mud daubers are solitary wasps that build nests made of mud. Specimen obtained from the University of Valencia, Spain

Sphecidae sp. digger wasp
Shown here is a fossilized wing of a digger wasp. This specimen is around about 130 million years old and originates from the Cretaceous rock of Surrey, England

Ammophila, Sand wasp and prey
A sand wasp dragging her prey, an oversized caterpillar, over the ground and back to her burrow

Sand Wasp (Sphex albisectus) adult female, digging nesting burrow, Chaine des Alpilles, Bouches-du-Rhone, Provence, France, June

Sand Digger Wasp (Ammophila pubescens) adult, backfilling nesting chamber, England

Compound eye of wasp, SEM
Compound eye of wasp, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). This is the eye of a digger wasp (family: Sphecidae). The eye consists of hundreds of individual structures called ommatidia

Solitary wasp carrying clod of earth for sealing nest entrance. Sam Knott Nature Reserve, nr Grahamstown, Eastern Cape
ASW-4725 Solitary wasp carrying clod of earth for sealing nest entrance Sam Knott Nature Reserve, nr Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Isodontia pelopoeiformis Alan J. S

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Discover the fascinating world of Sphecidae, a family of wasps that has existed since the Cretaceous period in Brazil. Step into a prehistoric scene where the Four-spotted Digger Wasp finds solace on a leaf in Norfolk, England during August. Witness the Sand Wasp, an adult female from Chaine des Alpilles, Bouches-du-Rhone, as she captures and paralyzes her grasshopper prey before filling her nesting burrow with small stones. Marvel at the Emerald Cockroach Wasp or Jewel Wasp with its captivating green and brown body and translucent wings up close. Watch in awe as the Field Digger Wasp skillfully captures a fly in a close-up encounter. Observe how these incredible creatures like to hunt cockroaches, such as Ampulex compressa delicately perched on a stick. Finally, witness the industrious Mud Dauber Wasps (C016 / 2290) building their intricate nests using mud and creating architectural wonders (C016 / 2291). Immerse yourself in this diverse world and appreciate their vital role within our ecosystems.