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Description
The Sphecidae are solitary wasps that can be used to assess biodiversity on a larger scale. Sphecidae are called solitary because they do not live in colonies but rather in dirt burrows, constructed nests, and existing cavities. Their behavior reflects their name as they rarely sting people and do not mind them much, as they commonly nest near or on human dwellings. Sphecidae occur worldwide and include four subfamilies: Sphecinae, Crabroninae, Nyssoninae, and Philanthinae. Of the 10,220 known species, 1200 occur in North America. Sphecidae prey on various invertebrates, including spiders, caterpillars, and bees. Members of the subfamily Sphecinae genera Sceliphron and Chalybion build nests out of mud and parasitize spiders – using them as hosts for their eggs. The subfamily Crabroninae’s species nests and diet can vary; most of them live in cavities in the ground, but some live in natural pre-existing cavities like hollow stems. Most of the subfamilies’ species also prey on flies, but some prey on beetles, hoopers, or smaller Hymenoptera. Similarly, the Sticita Carolina subfamily (Nyssoninae) also eats flies. Unlike the Sphecinae and Nyssoninae species from Philanthinae are known as bee killers, which prey on bees for food. The Sphecidae usually paralyze their chosen invertebrate and construct cells to place them in with one egg, so the wasp larvae have a food source. Sphecidae are identified by their curled antennae, slender waist, and horseshoe-shaped pronotum.
Publication Date
4-16-2025
Disciplines
Higher Education | Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
Recommended Citation
Barnett, Dawn; Brinegar, Kyah; Burdette, Gracie; and O'Keefe, Sean, "An Introduction To The Sphecidae Of Eastern Kentucky" (2025). 2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations. 15.
https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/celebration_posters_2025/15