Bug Identifier
Spider Wasp
Community identification

Spider Wasp

Family Pompilidae

Order & Family
Hymenoptera: Pompilidae
Size
10 to 50 mm in length
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found globally, typically in sunny areas with loose soil or sand for nesting.

Diet & Feeding

Adults feed on flower nectar; larvae are carnivorous, feeding on spiders provided by the mother.

Behavior Patterns

Solitary hunters that paralyze spiders with a sting and drag them to a burrow to lay a single egg on them.

Risks & Benefits

Possess an extremely painful sting if handled; beneficial as they help control spider populations.