My winter wasp research projects take a twist when I discover several unfamiliar species ... in the house!

Like most Crabronids, Cerceris are solitary wasps. Intriguingly, however, a few species display behaviours reminiscent of social insects. Our local species, Cerceris antipodes, is one such. I delve into the research literature to learn more about their nesting habits.

An unfamiliar sand wasp leads me to investigate Crabronidae … and develop tools I can apply to related puzzles in the future.

One small patch of sandy ground, so many ground-nesting insects! Seven species of crabronid, three bees, velvet ants … and more.

We discover a tiny, sand-nesting wasp and record unique photos and observations of a rarely seen crabronid … Rhopalum coriolum.

A detailed look at the nesting behaviour and identification of two more Crabronidae, Sphodrotes and Austrogorytes – with a Bembix and Cerceris thrown in, for good measure.

Podagritus is a genus in the family Crabronidae. It’s a wasp I’ve never seen before and their nesting behaviour has been fascinating me for weeks.

The few glimpses we get of life below ground is a reminder of how much is taking place beneath our feet.
Includes: Bembix (Crabronidae: Bembicini); Cerceris (Crabronidae: Philanthinae)

Congregations of burrowing wasps are distracting me from my pursuit of native bees ... for now, at least.

Some of my earliest (and rather naive) observations of Bembix furcata (Crabronidae: Bembicini)