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TranslateStizus ruficornis
Stizus ruficornis (J. Forster, 1771)
Family: Crabronidae; Sand Wasp.
Length: Up to 34mm
There is over 100 Stizus species of wasps, found in Eurasia, Africa and America. Stifus ruficornis is more common in the warmer climates of Europe, Asia and Africa.
Habitat: Stizus nests are constructed in sand, or in an earth and sand mix; usually near water.
Mating generally takes place, as the newly hatched females leave soon after, the males have left the nest. A male or up to several males will be waiting for the chance to mate. Sometimes an impatient male will be seen digging down into the nest for a mating.
Nests can be over a foot deep and have multiple cells, constructed by the solitary female wasp. Stizus ruficornis are credited to prey on mantids, the most common prey for most Stizus species being, grasshoppers and katydids (Bush crickets). The prey will be paralised by the female’s stinger, before flying back to the nest carrying her prey beneath her. In most cases each cell in her nest will be stocked with previously paralised prey. She will then lay an egg onto the prey’s thorax (chest) area. When the egg hatches, the young wasp will immediately feed on the paralised insect.
Read MoreFamily: Crabronidae; Sand Wasp.
Length: Up to 34mm
There is over 100 Stizus species of wasps, found in Eurasia, Africa and America. Stifus ruficornis is more common in the warmer climates of Europe, Asia and Africa.
Habitat: Stizus nests are constructed in sand, or in an earth and sand mix; usually near water.
Mating generally takes place, as the newly hatched females leave soon after, the males have left the nest. A male or up to several males will be waiting for the chance to mate. Sometimes an impatient male will be seen digging down into the nest for a mating.
Nests can be over a foot deep and have multiple cells, constructed by the solitary female wasp. Stizus ruficornis are credited to prey on mantids, the most common prey for most Stizus species being, grasshoppers and katydids (Bush crickets). The prey will be paralised by the female’s stinger, before flying back to the nest carrying her prey beneath her. In most cases each cell in her nest will be stocked with previously paralised prey. She will then lay an egg onto the prey’s thorax (chest) area. When the egg hatches, the young wasp will immediately feed on the paralised insect.
