Wasps

Spider Wasps

Family Pompilidae

Rusty Spider Wasp

Tachypompilus ferrugineus
This wasp captured a large wolf spider and carried it at least 50ft up the side of a tree.

Scoliid Wasps

Family Scoliidae

Hairy Scoliid Wasp

Scolia hirta

Blue-winged Scoliid Wasp

Scolia dubia
The adults feed on flowers and dig in the ground in search of June beetle larvae to lay their eggs on.

Scoliid Wasp

Feather-legged Scoliid Wasp

Dielis plumipes

Ichneumonid Wasps

Family Ichneumonidae

Ichneumonid wasps are an incredibly diverse group of parasitoids meaning they are parasites that eventually kill their hosts. Most lay eggs directly on or in their hosts where the larvae then develop by consuming the still living host.

Unidentified Ichneumon Wasps

Black Giant Ichneumonid Wasp

Megarhyssa atrata
These wasps parasitize woodwasp larve (specifically those of *Tremex columba*) by using their long ovipositor to burrow deep within decaying wood.

Yellow Ichneumon Wasp

Xanthopimpla punctata

Arotes amoenus

Arotes amoenus

Long-tailed Giant Ichneumon Wasp

Megarhyssa macrurus

Social Wasps

Family Vespidae

Banded Hornet

Vespa tropica/Vespa affinis

Paper Wasp

Polistes species

Bald-faced Hornet

Dolichovespula maculata

European Hornet

Vespa crabro

Red Paper Wasp

Polistes carolina

thread-waisted wasps

Family Sphecidae

Great Golden Digger Wasp

Sphex ichneumoneus

Blue Mud-dauber Wasp

Chalybion californicum
These wasps hunt and capture spiders as food for their larvae.

Velvet Ants

Family Mutillidae

Velvet ants are actually a group of wasps. The wingless females search for the burrows of ground nesting bees where they lay their eggs. These insects have notably strong exoskeletons and painful stings.

Velvet Ant

Dasymutilla species

Sacken's Velvet Ant

Dasymutilla sackenii