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Hornets and Wasps I found this bug in my Tennessee backyard. There are about twenty of them swarming around our patio. They seem to dig holes in the sand. I think it is some kind of sawfly from what i have found on the net. Can you tell me exactly what it is?
Dave
Hi Dave,
This is a Sand Wasp in the genus Bembix. They are not aggressive wasps and they are usually found in sandy areas. They are important predators. The female paralyzes flies to feed the larvae and a single larva will eat as many as 20 flies. Eric Eaton wrote in with this correction: “Hi, Daniel: Oh, and the sand wasp is actually Bicyrtes quadrifasciata, not a Bembix. Bicyrtes hunt stink bugs, which each female paralyzes and stores in a burrow as food for her offspring. Eric”
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