Pompilidae
(Spider Wasps)
Found on ground. 7 mm
Eumeninae
(Potter and Mason Wasps)
Vespidae
(Hornets, Paper Wasps, Potter Wasps, and Allies)
Sceliphron caementarium
(Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp)
Dolichovespula maculata
(Bald-faced Hornet)
Crabro latipes
(Shield-handed Wasps)
Ectemnius sp.
Subgenus Hypocrabro
Passaloecus sp.
(Picket-boring Aphid Wasps)
Trypoxylon sp.
Subgenus Trypoxylon
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Sapygidae
(Club-horned Wasps)
Vespula alascensis
(Alaska Yellowjacket)
Entered house, probably from the nest under the front porch. There are a few still hanging around even though the low temperatures are near freezing.
Prionyx sp.
Associated Species: Satureja montana (Winter Savory)
Ammophila sp.
(Thread-waisted Sand Wasps)
Associated Species: Satureja montana (Winter Savory)
Prionyx sp.
Associated Species: Origanum vulgare (Oregano)
Isodontia sp.
(Grass-carrying Wasps)
Prionyx sp.
Associated Species: Origanum vulgare (Oregano)
Vespula alascensis
(Alaska Yellowjacket)
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Vespula alascensis
(Alaska Yellowjacket)
On front porch.
Vespula pensylvanica
(Western Yellowjacket)
Prionyx sp.
On oregano flowers
Associated Species: Origanum vulgare (Oregano)
Vespula pensylvanica
(Western Yellowjacket)
Philanthus gibbosus
(Hump-backed Beewolf)
On parsley flowers
Philanthus gibbosus
(Hump-backed Beewolf)
On garden parsley flowers
Associated Species: Petroselinum crispum (Garden Parsley)
Vespula alascensis
(Alaska Yellowjacket)
On a piece of pineapple on the front porch
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
On oregano flowers
Associated Species: Origanum vulgare (Oregano)
Cerceris sp.
(Typical Weevil Wasps and Allies)
On common yarrrow
Associated Species: Achillea millefolium (Common Yarrow)
Dolichovespula arenaria
(Common Aerial Yellowjacket)
Pompilinae
On common yarrow
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
On oregano flowers
Associated Species: Origanum vulgare (Oregano)
Ammophilini
On oregano flowers
Associated Species: Origanum vulgare (Oregano)
Isodontia elegans
(Elegant Grass-carrying Wasps)
Dolichovespula maculata
(Bald-faced Hornet)
Gathering wood fibers for the nest.
Dolichovespula arenaria
(Common Aerial Yellowjacket)
Cerceris sp.
(Typical Weevil Wasps and Allies)
On parsley flowers
Sceliphron caementarium
(Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp)
19 Jul 2024
Flitting about on the parsley flowers. Hunting for spiders?
Associated Species: Petroselinum crispum (Garden Parsley)
Pemphredon sp.
(Typical Aphid Wasps)
Nesting in an old woodpile
Vespula alascensis
(Alaska Yellowjacket)
Sceliphron caementarium
(Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp)
Sceliphron caementarium
(Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp)
Associated Species: Ribes aureum (Golden Currant)
Vespula alascensis
(Alaska Yellowjacket)
Nesting under porch
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Euodynerus foraminatus
On California Poppy flower
Dolichovespula maculata
(Bald-faced Hornet)
25 Jun 2024
On spruce stump
Crabro latipes
(Shield-handed Wasps)
On Pacific Ninebark leaf
Associated Species: Physocarpus capitus (Pacific Ninebark)
Polistes aurifer
(Golden Paper Wasp)
On Eriogonum heracleoides\r\n(Parsnipflower Buckwheat) flowers
Associated Species: Eriogonum heracleoides (Parsnipflower Buckwheat)
Ancistrocerus sp.
On Eriogonum heracleoides (Parsnipflower Buckwheat) flowers
Associated Species: Eriogonum heracleoides (Parsnipflower Buckwheat)
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Ancistrocerus sp.
On Eriogonum heracleoides flowers
Associated Species: Eriogonum heracleoides (Parsnipflower Buckwheat)
Vespula atropilosa
(Prairie Yellowjacket)
On inside window sill.
Vespula alascensis
(Alaska Yellowjacket)
On kitchen counter, 16 mm
Caenochrysis sp.
(Caenochrysis)
Malaise trap, 5 mm
Epyris sp.
Malaise trap, 26-27 Aug 23, \r\n6 mm
Pompilinae
From Malaise trap, 26-27 Aug 23.\r\n~ 8 mm
Trypoxylon sp.
Subgenus Trypoxylon
From Malaise trap set on August 26-27, 2023.\r\n\r\n8 mm
Dolichovespula maculata
(Bald-faced Hornet)
26 Aug 2023
Malaise trap 26 Aug 23
16 mm
Vespula pensylvanica
(Western Yellowjacket)
Malaise trap, 14 mm
Vespula pensylvanica
(Western Yellowjacket)
26 Aug 2023
Malaise trap, 26-27 Aug 23.
15 mm
Vespula atropilosa
(Prairie Yellowjacket)
Malaise trap, 12 mm
Vespula alascensis
(Alaska Yellowjacket)
26 Aug 2023
Vespula germanica
(German Yellowjacket)
Malaise trap, 26-27 Aug 23. \r\n15 mm\r\n\r\nV. germanica?
Isodontia elegans
(Elegant Grass-carrying Wasps)
Crabro latipes
(Shield-handed Wasps)
Tachytes sp.
(Sand-loving Wasps)
Isodontia elegans
(Elegant Grass-carrying Wasps)
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Cerceris sp.
(Typical Weevil Wasps and Allies)
Cerceris sp.
(Typical Weevil Wasps and Allies)
Dolichovespula maculata
(Bald-faced Hornet)
Pompilinae
8 Jun 2023
Malaise trap 8 June 2023.
7 mm
Trypoxylon sp.
8 Jun 2023
Trypoxylon sp.
8 Jun 2023
Trypoxylon sp.
8 Jun 2023
Trypoxylon sp.
8 Jun 2023
Psenini
Malaise trap, 6 mm
Ancistrocerus adiabatus
Malaise trap\r\n10 mm
Eumenes sp.
(Typical Potter Wasps)
Symmorphus sp.
(Symmorphus)
Eumenes sp.
(Typical Potter Wasps)
Pemphredon sp.
(Typical Aphid Wasps)
Eumenes sp.
(Typical Potter Wasps)
Dolichovespula arenaria
(Common Aerial Yellowjacket)
18 May 2023
Dolichovespula arenaria
(Common Aerial Yellowjacket)
Chrysidini
On a spruce stump.
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Vespula pensylvanica
(Western Yellowjacket)
Checking out our newspaper tube.
Polistes dominula
(European Paper Wasp)
Checking out an old barbeque for a nest site.
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Pepsini
(Tarantula-hawk Wasps and Allies)
Isodontia elegans
(Elegant Grass-carrying Wasps)
Pepsini
(Tarantula-hawk Wasps and Allies)
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Pompilidae
(Spider Wasps)
Aporus luxus?
Pompilidae
(Spider Wasps)
In tool shed. 15 mm
Krombeinopyga pumila
On spruce stump\r\n\r\n6 mm
Isodontia elegans
(Elegant Grass-carrying Wasps)
Pompilidae
(Spider Wasps)
I watched this wasp dig a shallow nest in the sand. Then it immediately flew off and returned a few minutes later dragging a spider (Cat-faced Orbweaver?) back to her nest. Then she quickly covered up
Sceliphron caementarium
(Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp)
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Pemphredon sp.
(Typical Aphid Wasps)
10 mm
Pemphredon sp.
(Typical Aphid Wasps)
These three have been at it for the last 15 minutes or so.
Pemphredon sp.
(Typical Aphid Wasps)
Trypoxylon sp.
24 Jun 2022
Trypoxylon sp.
Subgenus Trypoxylon
Crabro latipes
(Shield-handed Wasps)
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Priocnemis oregona
13 mm\r\nI\'m not sure if I see the row of teeth on the hind tibia. But other than that, it looks like Priocnemis oregona to me.
Vespula pensylvanica
(Western Yellowjacket)
Vespula pensylvanica
(Western Yellowjacket)
Priocnemis oregona
Running around on ground.
Polistes dominula
(European Paper Wasp)
First one I\'ve seen this year.\n17 mm
Chrysis sp.
(Chrysis)
~ 10 mm
Crabro latipes
(Shield-handed Wasps)
Pemphredon sp.
(Typical Aphid Wasps)
Pemphredon sp.
(Typical Aphid Wasps)
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Polistes dominula
(European Paper Wasp)
Vespula germanica
(German Yellowjacket)
Vespula alascensis
(Alaska Yellowjacket)
Vespula sp.
(Ground Yellowjackets)
Vespula pensylvanica
(Western Yellowjacket)
In compost
Dolichovespula maculata
(Bald-faced Hornet)
Isodontia elegans
(Elegant Grass-carrying Wasps)
Pemphredon sp.
(Typical Aphid Wasps)
Trypoxylon sp.
Subgenus Trypoxylon
On raspberry leaf
Krombeinopyga pumila
Examining holes in a spruce stump, ~ 10 mm
Crabro latipes
(Shield-handed Wasps)
Crabro latipes
(Shield-handed Wasps)
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Symmorphus sp.
(Symmorphus)
Pemphredon sp.
(Typical Aphid Wasps)
Pemphredon sp.
(Typical Aphid Wasps)
Crabro latipes
(Shield-handed Wasps)
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Crabro latipes
(Shield-handed Wasps)
BugGuide: \"The male\'s front tibiae are greatly expanded into shields. He covers the female\'s eyes with those things during mating. The plates don\'t blind her, but apparently filter light in such a way that she recognizes this is a male of her own ...
Vespula pensylvanica
(Western Yellowjacket)
In house
Sapygidae
(Club-horned Wasps)
Sapygidae
(Club-horned Wasps)
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Polistes dominula
(European Paper Wasp)
Polistes dominula
(European Paper Wasp)
Vespula pensylvanica
(Western Yellowjacket)
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
18 mm
Euodynerus sp.
On Goldenrod flowers
Ammophila sp.
(Thread-waisted Sand Wasps)
~ 17 mm
Ammophila sp.
(Thread-waisted Sand Wasps)
This wasp spent ten minutes or so digging a burrow in the sand. Then she spent a minute or two covering the entrance with large boulders (some with diameters greater than t the length of her thorax). After she was finished there was no trace of her ...
Vespula consobrina
(Blackjacket)
Sceliphron caementarium
(Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp)
25 mm
Sapyga sp.
Caught leaving Osmia lignaria nest in bee hotel\n15 mm
Sapygidae
(Club-horned Wasps)
11 mm\r\nEntered an Osmia lignaria nest at bee hotel.
Vespula pensylvanica
(Western Yellowjacket)
Spent the night in a bee hotel.\nHole size 14 mm,
Sapygidae
(Club-horned Wasps)
With mites
Chrysura sp.
(Chrysura)
On spruce stump
Polistes dominula
(European Paper Wasp)
Polistes dominula
(European Paper Wasp)
Backed out of drilled hole in spruce stump, 5C
Ectemnius cephalotes
(Large Ectemnius)
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Isodontia sp.
(Grass-carrying Wasps)
Several of these grass-carrying wasp nests are in an old spruce stump in our yard.
Ectemnius sp.
These wasps flit about from hole to hole on a spruce stump, entering some and then leaving to inspect others.\r\n\r\n
BugGuide IDPassaloecus sp.
(Picket-boring Aphid Wasps)
Crabro sp.
(Shield-handed Wasps)
Ectemnius cephalotes
(Large Ectemnius)
Isodontia elegans
(Elegant Grass-carrying Wasps)
Several of these have nested in on old spruce stump. I\'ve seen them carrying grass to nest holes. There are six completed nests with grass sticking out of holes.\r\nBugGuide ID\r\nBee\'s Needs Blog: Insects of the Week: genus Isodontia ...
Polistes dominula
(European Paper Wasp)
Isodontia elegans
(Elegant Grass-carrying Wasps)
Ammophila sp.
(Thread-waisted Sand Wasps)
Philanthus gibbosus
(Hump-backed Beewolf)
Polistes dominula
(European Paper Wasp)
Tachytes sp.
(Sand-loving Wasps)
Krombeinopyga pumila
Captured leaving trap nest at bee hotel. Cooled, photographed, and released.\r\n7 mm
Ancistrocerus sp.
Nesting in hole in concrete of basement wall
Eumeninae
(Potter and Mason Wasps)
Nesting in cardboard yard sign
Chrysis sp.
(Chrysis)
Captured on spruce stump, cooled and photographed. Length 9 mm
Trypoxylon sp.
Subgenus Trypargilum
Caught when leaving a hole in a spruce stump. It had briefly inspected several holes before entering the one in which it was caught. Cooled, photographed, and released. (Before I could get enough pictures!)
Lestica sp.
Captured while leaving drilled hole in spruce stump.
Ectemnius sp.
Subgenus Hypocrabro
5 Jul 2018
Pemphredon sp.
(Typical Aphid Wasps)
Caught returning to next in a rotting log. It had a small insect in its mouth. (See previous observation.)
Sceliphron caementarium
(Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp)
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Cerceris sp.
(Typical Weevil Wasps and Allies)
Cerceris sp.
(Typical Weevil Wasps and Allies)
Sceliphron caementarium
(Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp)
Parancistrocerus sp.
(Parancistrocerus)
Pemphredon sp.
(Typical Aphid Wasps)
Dolichovespula maculata
(Bald-faced Hornet)
Vespula pensylvanica
(Western Yellowjacket)
Eumeninae
(Potter and Mason Wasps)
Pemphredon sp.
(Typical Aphid Wasps)
Psenini
~12 mm
Entered hole in an old log. Captured as it was leaving. Cooled and photographed.
Pemphredon sp.
(Typical Aphid Wasps)
12 mm
Eumeninae
(Potter and Mason Wasps)
Eumeninae
(Potter and Mason Wasps)
On the spruce stump
Pemphredon sp.
(Typical Aphid Wasps)
12 mm, around brush pile
Vespula atropilosa
(Prairie Yellowjacket)
Trapped inside house
Polochrum sp.
Hanging out on an old spruce stump entering blue orchard bee nest holes
Eumeninae
(Potter and Mason Wasps)
Eumeninae
(Potter and Mason Wasps)
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Vespula pensylvanica
(Western Yellowjacket)
Queen
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Digging a nest in my sand garden
Vespula germanica
(German Yellowjacket)
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
I watched this wasp moving the caterpillar, taking occasional breaks, maybe to find a place to dig its nest. (Bug Eric says cutworm wasps paralyze their prey and then dig a burrow to bury it in.) When I came back an hour or so later, the caterpillar ...
Sapygidae
(Club-horned Wasps)
Polistes dominula
(European Paper Wasp)
Polistes dominula
(European Paper Wasp)
Vespula pensylvanica
(Western Yellowjacket)
Vespula pensylvanica
(Western Yellowjacket)
Male
Polistes dominula
(European Paper Wasp)
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Pepsini
(Tarantula-hawk Wasps and Allies)
Dolichovespula maculata
(Bald-faced Hornet)
On hummingbird feeder
Dolichovespula arenaria
(Common Aerial Yellowjacket)
Cerceris sp.
(Typical Weevil Wasps and Allies)
Podalonia sp.
(Cutworm Wasps)
Polistes dominula
(European Paper Wasp)
Vespula pensylvanica
(Western Yellowjacket)
Vespula germanica
(German Yellowjacket)
Ectemnius sp.
With a captured hover fly
Eumeninae
(Potter and Mason Wasps)
Pemphredon sp.
(Typical Aphid Wasps)
Sceliphron caementarium
(Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp)
Vespula pensylvanica
(Western Yellowjacket)
5 Oct 2016
Eumenes sp.
(Typical Potter Wasps)
BugGuideAssociated Species: Petroselinum crispum (Garden Parsley)
Calopompilus pyrrhomelas
On parsley flowers
Associated Species: Petroselinum crispum (Garden Parsley)
Pompilidae
(Spider Wasps)
Associated Species: Petroselinum crispum (Garden Parsley)
Polistes dominula
(European Paper Wasp)
Associated Species: Petroselinum crispum (Garden Parsley)
Calopompilus pyrrhomelas
On parsley flowers in the garden.
Associated Species: Petroselinum crispum (Garden Parsley)
Vespula pensylvanica
(Western Yellowjacket)
Vespula germanica
(German Yellowjacket)
Associated Species: Petroselinum crispum (Garden Parsley)
Stenodynerus sp.
(Stenodynerus)
BugGuideAssociated Species: Achillea filipendulina (Fern-leaf Yarrow)
Ancistrocerus sp.
Associated Species: Achillea filipendulina (Fern-leaf Yarrow)
Vespula alascensis
(Alaska Yellowjacket)
Ancistrocerus albophaleratus
(White-banded Potter Wasp)
Polistes dominula
(European Paper Wasp)
Snuck into the house somehow
Pemphredon sp.
(Typical Aphid Wasps)
Appears to be nesting in a hole bored into an old log.
Dolichovespula maculata
(Bald-faced Hornet)
This is the first observation from the yard!
I hope to find and identify as many species as possible on our little quarter-acre lot.