great black wasp |
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Sphex pennsylvanicus |
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| Order | Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps, and Sawflies) |
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| Suborder | Apocrita (Ants, Bees, and Wasps) |
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| Family | Sphecidae (Thread-waisted Wasps) |
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| Subfamily | Sphecinae |
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| Tribe | Sphecini |
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| Status | Uncommon |
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| Habitat | Meadows, fields. |
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| Season | July to September |
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| Larval Food | Paralyzed katydid |
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| Adult Food | Flower nectar and/or pollen |
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| Identification | This is a large black wasp, up to |
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| Life Cycle | It creates a nest in soft earth and then provisions it with 2 to 6, usually 3, katydids in the genera Microcentrum and Scudderia. It then lays eggs in the nest. When the larvae hatch they feed on the still living but paralyzed katydids. |
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| Range |
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| Images | Click on an image for a larger view. | ||||||
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| Common Names |
great black wasp Katydid Hunter |
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