Fauna
Insect

Great Black Digger Wasp

Sphex pensylvanicus

Also known as Great Black Wasp

Great black digger wasps excel at solitary hunting and specialized soil engineering. Females excavate deep underground tunnels using their mandibles and legs, provisioning each brood chamber with paralyzed orthopterans like katydids. Adults spend warm summer afternoons sipping nectar from milkweeds and field flora, posing virtually no threat to humans unless physically handled.

SolitaryPollinatorHunter
Great Black Digger Wasp reference1 / 7
(c) Christian Back, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Christian Back · cc-by
—observations
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—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyKatydids, Grasshoppers, Flower Nectar
Predators
  • Birds
  • Robber Flies
  • Praying Mantises
ThreatsHabitat degradation and indiscriminate pesticide application
HabitatsMeadows, prairies, gardens, and sandy fields
Life span1 year
Classification
  1. OrderHymenoptera
  2. FamilySphecidae
  3. GenusSphex
  4. SpeciesSphex pensylvanicus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskVery high
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is very high
Females possess a potent sting if directly squeezed or handled; give them space while foraging.
Why it is dangerous
Females deliver venom through a sting meant to paralyze prey, which causes localized pain or severe reactions in allergic individuals.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognizable by an entirely velvety black body, dark smoky wings, and long legs.
What to do
Give foraging wasps space on flowers and refrain from stepping near active soil tunnels.
Responsible observation
  • Observing Nests: Look for small mounds of excavated dirt in dry soil during midsummer.
  • Garden Presence: Let them feed undisturbed on milkweed or goldenrod nectar, as they control garden pests.
  • Safe Distance: Maintain a comfortable clearance from active tunnel entrances to avoid startling females.
Related species
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