Great Golden Digger Wasp Facts

In this article, we will share all the basic species details about the great golden digger wasp, such as its habitat, what it eats, and so on.

Great golden digger wasps will instantly grab your attention as they have brightly colored bodies and are big in size.

These features can make them look quite intimidating, but should you be scared of these wasps?

Also, are they beneficial to gardeners like many other solitary wasps?

Let us find the answers to such questions in this article.

What Are Great Golden Digger Wasps?

The great golden digger wasps (Sphex Ichneumoneus) belong to the Sphecidae family and the order Hymenoptera.

These insects get their name from the bright golden hairs on their head and thorax. Their abdomen is usually rusty-red or orange in the front and black in the rear.

This vivid combination of colors gives it a catchy and attractive appearance that instantly catches people’s attention.

Also, great golden digger wasps are big insects; they show an average growth of about 1.5 inches.

You must know that these giant insects are solitary wasps; the female wasps prefer to construct individual nests to lay eggs.

What Does A Great Golden Digger Wasp Eat?

Adult wasps mostly have herbivorous diets. They are fond of drinking sweet flower nectar, and you can find them hovering around gardens and wildflowers.

The larvae rely on a protein-rich carnivorous diet to fulfill their needs.

The adult female hunts down pests like crickets and katydids. Fascinatingly, these insects do not kill the prey; they paralyze it to carry it back to their burrows.

The larva then devours the paralyzed insects to gain enough nutrients to start its pupal stage.

The availability of prey and food acts as a significant factor in deciding the ideal locations for building the nest. Let us take a look at where these wasps live.

Where Do Great Golden Digger Wasps Live?

Great golden diggers are found in various regions of Mexico, North America, South America, and Canada.

As mentioned above, these insects prefer to be around flowering areas as they primarily rely on nectar to fulfill their diets.

They like to be around open grasslands in a warm and sunny climate. Also, they build underground nests and prefer to be near sandy soil.

Unlike social wasps, you cannot spot them in big groups. However, nesting aggregations of up to hundreds of females can occur in ideal nesting areas.

Life Cycle of A Great Golden Digger Wasp

The life cycle of great golden digger wasps starts in the early spring when the females prepare to lay eggs.

They start by looking for an ideal spot to build deep underground tunnels. Once she finishes the digging, the entrance is covered to hide the nest’s existence.

She then proceeds to hunt small insects for the young ones.

Once the prey is tracked, the female digger wasp stings it. The stinger does not kill the insects, it paralyzes them.

The paralyzed prey is then carefully carried to the underground, vertical tunnels built by the females.

On their way to the nest, the wasps get ambushed by birds like robins. This is an attempt to steal the hunt from the wasp.

If the wasp manages to get the hunt to the nest, she does not put it in the burrow straight away; she first inspects the east, and if everything is intact, she stuffs the paralyzed prey in it.

She then drops an egg on the same vertical tunnel containing the insect. Once done, she exists and covers the tunnel again.

This process is repeated until all the tunnels are filled with insects.

Unlike social wasps, the great golden digger wasps do not show aggressive behavior in defending the nests.

When the eggs hatch, the wasp larva starts consuming the immobile insect in the chamber.

They devour the entire insect to gain size and nutrition to merge as active and healthy adults in the summer.

How Long Do Great Golden Digger Wasps Live?

Great golden digger wasps live around five to eight weeks as adults.

These insects can die much earlier if they are hunted down by potential wasp predators like birds, raccoons, and other giant insects.

The adults usually emerge during the peak summer months.

Do They Bite/Sting?

Great golden digger wasps may appear scary, but they are almost harmless. The males do not possess stingers and will not harm humans.

The females have stingers, but they use them to hunt insects only.

These wasps will only attack if you try to handle them recklessly. However, their stings can be painful.

Are They Poisonous/Venomous?

Great golden digger wasp stings are venomous enough to paralyze small insects, but it is quite ineffective against giants like humans.

However, if you are allergic to wasp stings, you must stay away from these insects, or you will have significant problems.

Are They Harmful or Beneficial to Humans?

As mentioned above, these insects are not harmful to humans. They will only attack if you are reckless around them.

Golden digger wasps are beneficial insects as they help to eliminate garden pests like grasshoppers.

These insects are decent pollinators. Also, by creating underground nests, they increase the aeration properties of the soil.

What Are Great Golden Digger Wasps Attracted To?

Great golden digger wasps prefer open grasslands. They prefer to be around sandy soil, which allows them to effectively build underground nests.

Also, you can find them hovering around flowers for nectar.

You must note that great golden digger wasps are significantly attracted to warm climates.

How to Get Rid of Great Golden Digger Wasps

Great golden digger wasps prefer to be in spaces with abundant pest populations.

They hunt insects like grasshoppers to feed the young ones. If your garden is free from pests, these insects will refrain from digging nests in that region.

Also, since they construct underground nests, they are attracted to loose, sandy soil.

If the garden is filled with grass and other plants, the soil becomes firm, which makes it harder for these wasps to build underground nests.

Interesting Facts About Great Golden Digger Wasps

This article gives you a good overview of the great golden wasp.

Apart from the appearance, nesting habits, and life cycle, we will share a few more interesting facts about these insects in this section.

• Great golden digger wasp females are comparatively bigger than males. Also, the males do not possess a stinger.
• Every mama golden digger wasp inspects the nest before putting the paralyzed prey in it. If the prey gets dislocated while inspecting, the wasp will relocate it, carry it to the nest, and inspect it again before stuffing the hunt inside.
• While putting the immobilized insect in the tunnel, the female always stuffs them head first.
• While carrying the insects to the nest these wasps are ambushed by birds like robins to steal the prey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrap Up

Great golden digger wasps are giant insects with brightly colored bodies. They might look scary, but they are mostly harmless to humans.

These insects will only sting if they feel threatened by your presence. Be careful around them, as these stings can be painful.

Also, remember that great golden digger wasps help get rid of pests like grasshoppers without using any chemicals.

Thank you for reading the article.