Smokey-winged Beetle Bandit Wasp - Cerceris fumipennis

Ground nesting wasp that preys mostly on adult metallic woodborer beetles (Buprestidae), including emerald ash borers (EAB), which are invasive and highly destructive. This species of wasp is being used to detect the presence of the EAB.

Habitat: forest edge

comments (2)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

What a stunner! I looked for the common name, you're going to love it, unless you already knew it. Posted 5 years ago, modified 5 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  I didn't know the common name! Awesome! Posted 5 years ago

The Smokey-winged Beetle Bandit Wasp

''Cerceris fumipennis'', the only species of buprestid-hunting Crabronidae occurring in eastern North America, is found throughout the continental United States east of the Rockies: from Texas and Florida north to Maine and Wyoming, and is now known from more than twenty colonies of varying size in Canada. The wasps most often nest in open areas of hard-packed sandy soil surrounded by woody habitat suitable for their buprestid beetle prey. Ontario colonies are associated with somewhat disturbed.. more

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Similar species: Wasps, Bees, Sawflies And Ants

Species identified by Christine Young