Subfamily Sphecinae - Thread-waisted Wasps 

This page contains pictures and information about subfamily Sphecinae - Thread-waisted Wasps that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.

Wasps in this subfamily are medium to large size, with the distinctive long and narrow petiole.

 
Common Mud-Dauber Wasp
 
Sceliphron formosum, length 22mm
Some wasps build nests with pellets of mud. Those are individual cells in rows built by Mud-Dauber Wasps. They are very common around Brisbane, in sheltered locations. If a cell is opened, you may find a wasp larva, together with some spiders which are the larva's foods. They are collected by the mother wasp. We opened one cell and recorded the development of a wasp. Details please click here.
 
 
Black Digger Wasp
  wpe1A.jpg (23774 bytes)
Sphex cognatus (Chlorion cognatus), body length 25mm
This wasp is black in colour. Female burrow in ground and prey on crickets and grasshoppers for their young. It builds its nest on the sandy shore of a creek. More pictures and information please visit this page.
 
 
Golden Digger Wasp
wpe2F.jpg (48573 bytes)  wpe31.jpg (52349 bytes)
Sphex sp., body length 20mm
We found this wasp in Karawatha Forest during late summer. It was hopping and searching on the forest floor. Its wings, thorax and head was in golden colour with a black body. Its legs were strong and was running fast. Please also check this page for more information.
 
 
Different Types of Mud Cells
DSCN0406.JPG (121760 bytes) 
? sp. 
 

Reference:
1. Insects of Australia, CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University Press, 2nd Edition 1991, pp 990.
2. Insects of Australia and New Zealand - R. J. Tillyard, Angus & Robertson, Ltd, Sydney, 1926, p297. 

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Last updated: December 16, 2007.