The American Sand Wasp, Bembix americana, is a solitary wasp that preys on flies. A single wasp will kill hundreds of flies in a one nesting season, making them an important biological control for many species of flies.
Using her front legs, the female wasp digs a 6 to 14-inch-deep nest in sandy, vegetation-free soil, with a large oval cell at the bottom. The females are very efficient at digging, using a style similar to a dog’s digging style.
Once the nest is dug, the female will capture a fly, sting it to paralyze it, and take it back to the nest where she lays a single egg on it. After hatching, the larvae may go through up to 20 to 30 flies before finally spinning a cocoon. Once the c...