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Insects and other arthropods

Black and white digger wasp

English
Bicyrtes quadrifasciatus
Photo: Insectarium de Montréal (André Payette)
Bicyrtes quadrifasciatus
  • Bicyrtes quadrifasciatus
  • Bicyrtes quadrifasciatus

Tabs group

Description

These black wasps have broken whitish or pale yellow bands in the centre of their abdomens, narrowing toward the tip. They have light-coloured legs and amber or greyish wings. They are 17 to 19 mm long.

Life cycle

The solitary female digs a nest in sandy soil. She then goes hunting and brings her paralyzed prey back into the underground nest, to serve as food for the larva. After laying an egg on the prey, she plugs the end of the burrow with sand. The larva feeds and pupates inside a cocoon before emerging as an adult. 

Geographic distribution

This is a North American species.

French name
Guêpe bicyrtes (guêpe de sable, guêpe fouisseuse)
Scientific name
Bicyrtes quadrifasciatus
English name
Black and white digger wasp (sand wasp)
Class
Insecta
Order
Hymenoptera

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