Golden Digger Wasp

The Golden Digger Wasp, Sphex ichneumoneus is a large wasp that is seen collecting nectar from flowers along side the Big Black Wasp. It is distinctive as a large wasp (about 20 mm) with golden to orange body and legs. It has rows of yellow hairs on the back of its head and the top edges of its thorax.

This wasp hunts large insects, primarily crickets, katydids and grasshoppers that it places in a underground nests as food for its offspring. Typically, there are several chambers radiating from a common point. This has been a good year for crickets and grasshoppers in Indiana. The wasps should have good hunting.

About jjneal

Jonathan Neal is a retired Associate Professor of Entomology at Purdue University and author of the textbook, Living With Insects (2010). This blog is a forum to communicate about the intersection of insects with people and policy. This is a personal blog. The opinions and materials posted here are those of the author and are in no way connected with those of my employer.

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