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.

An update on my quest to get to know our local bees.

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