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Is this a sweat bee?
Dear Bugman:
I just found your site and have been really enjoying it. What a fantastic learning opportunity. Recently, my family met with another at a nearby park (in Gilbert, Arizona) so our kids could play, and we were fascinated by some insects that looked like colorful bees that were intent on digging in the playground sand. We called our kids over (keeping a respectful distance from the little workers) so they could see and appreciate these interesting insects. I’ve attached two pictures, nothing shows scale, but they were about the size of honeybees only more slender and a little longer. Can you help us identify them? Our kids are very interested to know what they are. Thanks,
Stephanie
Gilbert, AZ

Hi Stephanie,
This is not a Sweat Bee. It is a Sand Wasp. We wrote to Eric Eaton to see if he could be even more specific, but his response which follows doesn’t get very specific either. "Yes, a sand wasp, but could be one of several different genera (Bembix,
Glenostictia, Stictiella,….) Eric"

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