Insect · GBIF taxon 8391424
Ectemnius maculosus
Ectemnius maculosusAlso known as Yellow-spotted Square-headed Wasp, Maculated Crabronid Wasp
Square-headed wasps are energetic solitary hunters recognizable by their blocky heads, bright yellow body markings, and rapid flight among sunlit foliage. Females excavate tunnels in rotting logs or soft timber, provisioning individual brood cells with paralyzed flies to feed their developing larvae. Adults frequent late-summer wildflowers like goldenrod and Queen Anne's lace, serving as beneficial pollinators in gardens and forest edges.
Solitary WaspFly HunterWood-Nesting
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Hoverflies
- Blow Flies
- Flesh Flies
Predators
- Songbirds
- Robber Flies
- Jumping Spiders
ThreatsRemoval of standing dead trees, habitat destruction, and broad-spectrum insecticides.
HabitatsDeciduous forests, woodland margins, parks, and suburban gardens with dead wood.
Life span1 year (adults live 1–2 months in summer)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderHymenoptera
- FamilyCrabronidae
- GenusEctemnius
- SpeciesEctemnius maculosus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskVery high
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is very high
- Females can deliver a mild sting if grasped; observe peacefully from a short distance.
Responsible observation
- Check Dead Logs: Look for small round entry holes in exposed decaying wood on warm afternoons.
- Flower Spotting: Search patches of blooming goldenrod or carrot family flowers for nectar-feeding adults.
- Give Space: Observe nesting females quietly without blocking tunnel entrances.
Prey no rights reserved, uploaded by Jesse Rorabaugh · cc0
Nectar Source (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Close Relative no rights reserved · cc0
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