Included Families (depending on classification)
- Sphecidae – Classic hunting wasps, often slender, such as Ammophila or Sceliphron.
- Crabronidae (sometimes included here) – Black or discreet wasps, often specialized on specific prey (flies, aphids, cicadas…).
- Other historical families: Heterogynaidae, Mellinidae (often now integrated or reorganized).
Habitat
Sphecoidea are found in:
- Bare soils, embankments, sandy riverbanks
- Sunny areas, dry grasslands, heathlands
- Dead wood, hollow stems, old walls (for cavity-nesting species)
- Flowers visited for nectar
Biology
- Solitary wasps: each female builds and provisions her nest alone
- Nesting:
- In soil, cavities in wood or plants
- Sometimes in aggregations, but without cooperation between individuals
- Prey:
- Various insects depending on species: orthopterans, flies, spiders, hemipterans, caterpillars…
- Prey is paralyzed and stored in brood cells
Notable Genera
- Ammophila – Hunt caterpillars, nest in sandy soils
- Sceliphron – Build mud nests, capture spiders
- Sphex – Hunt orthopterans
- Isodontia, Chalybion, Podalonia – Other representative genera with remarkable behavior
Distinctive Features
- Highly specialized behavior in some species (e.g., hunting only winged aphids, cicadas…)
- Females exhibit complex digging and camouflage behaviors
- Important role in the natural control of insect populations
- Some species are flower-visiting as adults, commonly seen on umbellifers and asteraceae
A realistic illustration of a typical sphecoid wasp (Ammophila, Sceliphron, or Sphex) will be added soon.