Eastern Sphecid Wasps
Working list of the possible Eastern Sphecid wasps with subfamilies, tribes and subtribes noted. Taken from combined sources including the internet and the impressive but slightly outdated Sphecid Wasps of the World from Bohart and Menke. Ranges are spotty with states and regions listed for known occurrences. These are now updated to literature references from the Catalog mentioned below. I have no lists of confirmed Arkansas species as of yet. "Nea" refers to number of species listed for all of North America at the excellent Nearctica insect list. And here is the updated Sphecid Wasp Catalog from the California Academy of Sciences (covers the entire globe but it is more up to date). Presently there are about 1400 species in North America. Habits and identifying characteristics given where known. Prey choice of species and groups marked in red where known from various sources.
AMPULICINAE (3)
Ampulicini
Ampulex (2 Nea) (Uses cockroaches, nymphal, one per cell, pulls prey by antennae bases; nests in twigs, stems and borings; Krombein traps; partitions of leaves and grass)
canaliculata Say 1823 (CT MI MO NC PA WV) (July to Sept in NC)
ferruginea Bradley 1934 (TX only)
Dolichurini
Dolichurus (1 Nea) (Uses cockroaches; nests in stems and crevices)
greenei Rohwer 1916 (FL MI NC VA)
SPHECINAE (44)
Sceliphronini
Chalybion (2 Nea) (Uses spiders; nests in holes in wood; sometimes takes over mud nests of others; carries water to dirt to make usable mud)
californicum (de Saussure) 1763 (CA CO CT FL KS MI NM NE NC OH OK PA SC TX UT WV)
zimmermanni zimmermanni Dahlbom 1843 (AZ IN NC SC TX) (seals nest with white material)
Chlorion (2 Nea) (Uses Gryllids, up to seven per nest)
aerarium Patton 1879 (AR CT FL KS MA MI NC TX)
cyaneum Dahlbom 1843 (CO GA IL MI MO NE NC TX)
Podium (3 Nea) (Uses Cockroaches; nests in wood chambers or bark; prey is held in mandibles)
fulvipes Cresson 1865 (FL only)
krombeini Bohart and Menke 1963 (TX only)
luctuosum F. Smith 1856 (DC FL LA MD MI NC NY TX) (Krombein with only one nest in his entire study)
rufipes Fabricius 1804 (FL MI MO NC TN TX) (complex nest closure; 3-14 per cell)
Sceliphron (2 Nea) (Uses spiders, favors Argiopidae; makes globular mud nests)
caementarium (Drury) 1770 (AR CA CO CT FL LA MD MI NE NC NY PA TX UT VA)
Sphecini (Use Tettigonids)
Subtribe Sphecina
Isodontia (6 Nea 7) (Uses Gryllids or Tettigonidae; nests in hollow stems, rolled leaves; cuts grass for closures)
apicalis (F. Smith) 1856 (FL IL NC TX) (Tettigonids)
auripes (Fernald) 1906 (FL MA MI MD MO NC PA SC TN TX) (grass) (Gryllids 9-18 per cell, common brood chamber) (three toothed mandible, yellow legs)
azteca (de Saussure) 1867 (FL MI NC)
elegans (F. Smith) 1856 (CA NE TX)
exornata Fernald 1903 (FL GA NC)
mexicana (de Saussure) 1867 (FL GA IL KS MI MO NE NY NC PA TN TX) (grass) (Gryllids and Tettigonids) (known to use Pitcher Plants for nests in SE)
philadelphica (Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau) 1845 (CO KS MA NC PA TX) (Tettigonids)
Sphex (13 Nea 9) (Use one species of katydid per wasp species; ground nesters, gregarious, repeat site users)
ashmeadi (Fernald) 1906 (AZ CA TX)
dorsalis Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau 1845 (FL TX)
flavovestitus F. Smith 1856 (FL GA NC VA TX)
habenus Say 1831 (FL LA NC TX VA)
ichneumoneus (Linnaeus) 1758 (AZ CA FL ID IL KS LA MA MD MI MO NE NC NY OH TX UT) (abdomen and legs red or reddish, wings subhyaline)
lucae de Saussure 1867 (AZ CA NE TX)
nudus Fernald 1903 (IL MD NC SC TN TX) (bright orange-red legs beyond mid-femur on all legs)
pensylvanicus Linnaeus 1763 (CT FL IL KS MA MD MI NE NC NY TX ) (black legs and abdomen, wings blackish)
texanus Cresson 1873 (TX only)
Subtribe Prionyxina
Palmodes (10 Nea) (Uses Tettagonids; all western except dimidiatus; carries prey holding one antennae by straddling and pulling over ground)
dimidiatus (De Geer) 1773 (CA FL KS MI NC PA TX) (temp nest closures, single provisions, nest excavated first)
Prionyx (7 Nea) (Uses only Acridids, obtains prey first, then stashes and digs nest, holds prey by antennae with mandibles)
atratus (Lepeletier) 1845 (CO KS MI MO MT NE ND NM NY NC TX UT WY)
(uses single grasshopper) (dark brown or black abdomen)
parkeri Bohart & Menke 1963 (AZ CO NC TX WY) (red abdomen)
thomae (Fabricius) 1775 (CA CO FL GA MA MI MS NM NC TX) (red abdomen)
Ammophilini
Podalonia (19 Nea) (Uses Noctuid larvae from soil, searches over soil and then digs; captures prey first, stashes and dig sometimes twenty feet away; caterpillars carried venter up by mandibles over ground; late summer and early fall females may be found in mass clusters in crevices)
luctuosa (F. Smith) 1856 (CO MI NE NC TX UT) (1 Noctuid per cell) (body black with a faint bluish tinge)
valida (Cresson) 1865 (CA CO NE TX)
violaceipennis (Lepeletier) 1845 (FL MA MD MI NC ND PA) (abdomen partly reddish)
Eremnophila (1 Nea) (Uses large caterpillars mostly of Notodontidae; carries venter up over ground by mandibles)
aureonotata (Cameron) 1888 (FL MD MI NY NC TX WV)
Ammophila (62 Nea 12) Caterpillar hunters (Uses Lepidopterous and Hymenopterous [sawfly] caterpillars; dig nests first; carries prey head first, venter up with mandibles and sometimes front pair of legs; often flies with prey)
evansi Menke 1964 (CT MI NC NY) (uses loamy soil among vegetation)
extremitata Cresson 1865 (CA CT IL ID NE)
gracilis Lepeletier 1845 (MD TX)
harti (Fernald) 1931 (CO IL MI MO NE NY WY) (sand dunes and blowouts; 7 familes of Geometrid; 5-12 items per cell)
kennedyi (Murray) 1865 (CA CO CT IL MA MI NE NM NY TX) (close to urnaria)
leoparda (Fernald) 1934 (GA MI MN) (uncommon)
nigricans Dahlbom 1843 (IL KS MI NE SC NC NY PA) (sandy clay soils)
pictipennis Walsh 1869 (CO IL IA KS MD MI MO NC NJ NY TX) (shallow unicellular nests; uses Noctuid larvae in Michigan)
placida F. Smith 1856 (CA FL MA MI NY)
procera Dahlbom 1843 (AZ CA CO CT FL ID IL IA KS MD MI MO NE NC TX MN UT)
urnaria Dahlbom 1843 (CO CT FL IL MD MI MN NE NY PA SC VA TX WV) (waste areas and gravel pits; uses Geometrids and Noctuids in Michigan)
varipes Cresson 1865 (IA NE NM TX)
PEMPHREDONINAE (53)
Psenini (Use hoppers)
Subtribe Psenina
Mimumesa (16 Nea 8) (Uses Homoptera, Delphacids and Cicadellids; nests in clay banks, decaying wood)
canadensis (Malloch) 1933 (NY)
fuscipes (Packard) 1867 (MA)
johnsoni (Viereck) 1901 (NJ VA WV)
leucopus (Say) 1837 (CO IL IN MD)
longicornis (W. Fox) 1898 (FL MD NC NJ)
mellipes (Say) 1837 (IN IL IA NE NY)
nigra (Packard) 1867 (CT NC PA VA WV)
regularis (W. Fox) 1898 (NJ)
Mimesa (33 Nea)
cressoni Packard 1867 (CO IL IA MO NM NE NJ NY NC UT) (9-17 items per cell)
ezra Cresson 1865 (CO IL MD NY)
lutaria (Fabricius) 1787 (GA ME MD NM NY NE)
maculipes W. Fox 1893 (FL NC NJ)
pauper Packard 1867 (IL ME NE ND VA WV)
Pseneo (3 Nea 2) (Uses leafhoppers; ground nesting)
punctatus carolina (Rohwer) 1910 (NC)
punctatus ferruginea (Viereck) 1901 (FL)
simplicicornis (W. Fox) 1898 (NC)
Psen (4 Nea) (Nests in stumps and dead trees, hard sand, clay banks)
barthi Viereck 1907 (MD NC PA WI)
erythropoda Rohwer 1910 (MD NY VA WV)
monticola (Packard) 1867 (CT MD NH NC VA WV)
Subtribe Psenulina
Pluto (21 Nea 10) (Uses leafhoppers; gregarious)
aerofacies (Malloch) 1933 (NC TX)
albifacies (Malloch) 1933 (IA TX)
angulicornis (Malloch) 1933 (IA LA NM TX)
arenivagus (Malloch) 1933 (FL GA NC)
littoralis (Malloch) 1933 (FL MD NC SC)
rotundus van Lith 1979 (FL)
rufibasis (Malloch) 1933 (FL GA LA MD NC)
sayi (Cresson) 1873 (CA KS MO NC TN TX VA)
suffusus (W. Fox) 1898 (CA FL NM TX)
tibialis (Cresson) 1873 (AL DC FL NC SC TX VA)
Psenulus (4 Nea) (Uses aphids and leafhoppers; nests in hollow stems, abandoned beetle borings)
trisulcus (W. Fox) 1898 (CT MO NH NC NY PA VA WV)
Pemphredonini (Uses Aphids)
Subtribe Pemphredonina
Pemphredon (9 Nea 8) (Nests in tubes and bores and galls, decayed wood; nests are open; carries aphids in mandibles)
foxii Rohwer 1917 (NC NJ VA WV)
inornata Say 1824 (CO CT NE PA WI WV)
lugubris (Fabricius) 1793 (AZ CO NC NH)
menckei R. Bohart 1993 (MD)
montana Dahlbom 1845 (CT CO NH NC)
nearctica Kohl 1890 (CO NV WV)
pulawskii Dollfuss 1993 (VA)
unicolor Panzer 1798 (NJ TX WV)
Passaloecus (16 Nea) (Uses aphids; twig and wood nester; plugged and partitioned with resin or pebbles; some species steal from other aphid feeding wasps)
annulatus (Say) 1837 (IN KS NE NJ NC PA TX VA WV)
areolatus Vincent 1979 (MD NY VA WV)
cuspidatus F. Smith 1856 (CA CO DC MA NC NY VA WV) (14 -74 aphids per cell)
lineatus Vincent 1979 (WV)
relativus W. Fox 1892 (CO PA WY)
singularis Dahlbom 1844 (NY)
Subtribe Stigmina
Stigmus (8 Nea) (Uses aphids; twig nesters; carries prey with mandibles; small active black wasps)
americanus Packard 1867 (CO CT IL KS KY NC NY PA VA WV MY)
aphidiperda Rohwer 1911 (NC PA)
fraternus Say 1824 (CO MO PA VA WV)
fulvicornis Rohwer 1923 (MS)
fulvipes W. Fox 1892 (CA NE NM NC VA)
inordinatus universitatus Rohwer 1909 (CO WV)
Spilomena (5 Nea) (Uses immature and adult thrips; nests in twigs, timber, decayed wood)
alboclypeata Bradley 1906 (WV WY)
ampliceps Krombein 1952 (WV)
barberi Krombein 1962 (CA MD PA VA)
pusillus Say 1837 (CT IN MD NY NC VA WV)
Xysma (1 Nea) (Uses thrips; nests in Anobiid borings in sheds and buildings)
ceanothae (Viereck) 1904 (DC MD PA)
ASTATINAE (6)
Astatini
Astata (14 Nea) (Uses Heteroptera, Pentatomids; very fast flight)
bicolor Say 1823 (AR CA CT KS NC NM NE NY TX) (abdomen red)
leuthstromi Ashmead 1897 (CO ID NY VA WV WI)
nubecula Cresson 1865 (CA CO ID NY NE ND UT WV)
occidentalis Cresson 1881 (ID NV TX VA WA) (3-6 per cell)
unicolor Say 1824 (CT IA MD NY NM NC TX VA) (abdomen black)
Dryudella (10 Nea, essentially western genus) (Uses Heteroptera)
pernix F. Parker 1969 (TX)
LARRINAE (96)
Larrini
Subtribe Larrina
Larra (1 Nea) (Uses mole crickets; ground nesters; uses head and forelegs as scrapers; egg laid on cricket and released)
analis Fabricius 1804 (FL GA KS NE NC TX)
bicolor Fabricius 1804 (FL)
dives (Lepeletier) 1845 (NC)
Liris (16 Nea) (Uses Gryllidae; carries prey by antennae; constructs nest or borrows site; does not pack closure)
argentatus (Beauvois) 1811 (CA CO CT FL KS MD NE NC NY PA TX VA WV)
beatus (Cameron) 1889 (CA NC NM NY TX)
muspa Pate 1943 (FL TX)
panamensis muesebeki (Krombein) 1954 (FL only)
partitus Krombein and Shanks 1984 (TX ony)
Subtribe Tachytina
Larropsis (24 Nea 10) (Uses Gryllids; males often found near gopher or rabbit holes)
consimilis (W. Fox) 1894 (KS TX)
discreta (W. Fox) 1894 (GA)
distincta (F. Smith) 1856 (CT IA KS MA NE NC NY PA)
elegans Bohart and Bohart 1966 (TX only)
filicornis Rohwer 1911 (NE TX)
greenei Rohwer 1917 (NJ)
sericea Bohart and Bohart 1966 (TX only)
shappirioi Bohart and Bohart 1962 (DC)
sparsa Bohart and Bohart 1966 (TX only)
texensis Bohart and Bohart 1966 (TX only)
Tachytes (34 Nea 27) (Uses Orthopterans; nests in preexisting holes in soil, rodent burrows, old or active Sphecius burrows; mounded soil at site; many-celled nests; pushes out soil with abdomen; prey flown to nest, carried by antennae)
abdominalis (Say) 1823 (AR ID KS NM NC TX) (abdominal segments 1 and 2 or 1 to 3 ferruginous, abd with four pale golden fasciae, 9-10 mm)
amazonus F. Smith 1856 (FL KS NE NC TX WI) (wings nearly clear, pygidium bright golden, abd. variably red with golden fasciae)
auricomans Bradley 1919 (East NC to FL, IL to East TX) (scape dark, three light abdominal fasciae)
aurulentus (Fabricius) 1804 (FL CO CT KS MD NE NC PA TX VA WI WY) (scutum silvery to gold, pygidial dark coppery)
badius Banks 1942 (TX only)
birkmanni Rohwer 1909 (AZ TX) (four bands on abdomen, 6-7 mm)
chrysopyga obscurus Cresson 1873 (AZ KS MD MO NE NC TX) (Abdomen with four silvery fasciae, 1 to 3 black, F 13-14mm)
columbiae W. Fox 1892 (MD to FL, IL TX) (hind femur half to all red, propodeum golden haired)
crassus Patton 1880 (CO CT DC MD NC NE WI) (Uses Katydids) (abdomen black with three dorsal silver bands, hind femurs very hairy)
cressoni Banks 1942 (TX only) (slender spines on female hindtibia, 5 and 6 abdominal black)
desertus Bohart 1994 (TX only) (female hindfemur red)
distinctus F Smith 1856 (CA CO GA KS NC NM PA TX UT) (Uses mostly genus Melanopli in KS)
(legs mostly ferruginous, three silvery fasciae on abdomen, 15-22mm)
floridanus Rohwer 1920 (FL GA KS NC TX) (bright silvery pygidium)
grisselli Bohart 1994 (FL only)
guatamalensis Cameron (Eastern to TX KS) (two dorsal abdominal bands on female)
harpax Patton 1880 (CT KS NC NE PA WI) (Uses genus Xiphidium in KS) (thorax with grayish pubescence, hind femur black)
intermedius (Viereck) 1906 (DC FL KS MD NC NE NY TX) (Uses Pygmy mole crickets; 2-6 per cell) (female abdominal 1 and 2 sometimes red)
mergus W. Fox 1892 (AZ FL KS MO NJ NC TX WI) (wings clear, F 9mm, mandible red or reddish)
obductus W. Fox 1892 (FL KS MO NC NY TN TX) (pygidium with fine bright golden pile, abd segments 1-5 brassy or silver fasciate, F 10.5mm)
parvus W. Fox 1892 (AZ FL ID NC NE NJ NY) (abdominal 1 to 3 red)
pennsylvanicus Banks 1921 (Eastern west to TX NE MT) (abdomen all dark)
pepticus (Say) 1837 (CO ID IL IN KS MO NE NC TX WI) (tarsi largely ferruginous, abdomen with four silvery fasciae, F 13-16mm)
praedator W. Fox 1892 (MD to FL west to East TX) (Uses Katydids; nocturnal excavators) (hind femur half to all red)
sayi Banks 1942 (CO ID KS OK TX WY) (abdominal 5 or 6 silvery, female hindtibia with slender spines)
seminole Banks 1942 (FL only) (hind femur nearly all red)
validus Cresson 1873 (CO FL KS MI NE NC NY NJ TX WI) (Uses Katydids; 1-5 per cell) (scape bright orange-red)
(head and thorax pale golden, abdomen with four silvery fasciae, legs yellow-ferruginous, F 18-22mm)
werneri Bohart 1994 (AZ TX)
Tachysphex (76 Nea 19) (Uses Orthoptera; digs nest first, throwing soil out behind them in a stream; one-celled nests; grasps prey by antennae, legs assist)
acutus (Patton) 1881 (CT KS MN NC NE NY WV WI) (abdomen black or only apically red)
antennatus W. Fox 1894 (CA FL KS NE NC TX WI) (wings clear except apically, abdominal segments 1-3 reddish brown)
apicalis W. Fox 1893 (CA CO CT FL KS NC NM ND SC TX WI) (apex of abdomen red, dense silvery pubescence, F 9-11mm)
belfragei (Cresson) 1873 (FL KS NE NC NY TX) (tibia and tarsi reddish, apex of pygidium reddish, F 9-10mm)
crassiformis Viereck 1906 (CA FL KS NC TX) (abdomen reddish, distal tarsi reddish)
krombeini Kurczewski 1971 (FL only)
krombeiniellus Pulawski 1982 (FL only)
laevifrons (L. Smith) 1856 (FL KS NC TX)
maurus Rohwer 1911 (TX only)
mundus W. Fox 1894 (CO IL NC NE MT TX)
pechumani Krombein 1938 (IN NJ)
pompiliformis (Panzer) 1805 (CO CT KS NE OR)
punctifrons (W. Fox) 1891 (CO FL MN MT NE NC TX)
scopaeus Pulawski 1988 (TX only)
similis Rohwer 1910 (FL MD MN NC NY SC TX VA WI)
tarsatus (Say) 1823 (AR CA CO CT KS MA MN NE NY NJ NC PA TX WI WY) (abdomen entirely red or red and black)
terminatus (F. Smith) 1856 (KS MA NE NM NC NY PA SC VA WI) (uses Acrids, 3-7 per cell) (abdomen black with red apex)
texanus (Cresson) 1873 (CA KS NE NC TX WI) (wings clear, abdomen all red)
utina Pulawski 1988 (FL only)
Miscophini
Lyroda (2 Nea) (Uses Orthoptera; carried by antennae; serial feeders; ground nesters and preexisting burrows)
subita Say 1837 (CO CT ID IN KS MD NY NC PA TX UT VA) (Gryllids; favors genus Nemobius; 1-7 per cell)
(wings hyaline, apex dusky)
triloba Say 1837 (CT KS TX) (wings very dark fuscous)
Plenoculus (15 Nea Mostly CA and SW 3) (Uses Miridae; nests in sandy soil; entrance open)
cockerelli W. Fox 1894 (AZ CA NM TX)
davisi W. Fox 1893 (AZ CA CO KS MO MT NE NY PA WI)
davisi atlanticus Viereck 1902 (CT NC)
gillaspyi Krombein 1938 (TX only)
Solierella (49 Nea 7) (Uses Hemiptera; cavity nester and twig and stem nester; nests closed with pebbles and grass)
foxii (Viereck) 1902 (NJ)
inermis (Cresson) 1873 (FL IL KS NC TX)
nigrans (Krombein) 1909 (CO WV)
peckhami (Ashmead) 1897 (CA FL KS NY OR)
plenoculoides (W. Fox) 1893 (CO GA SC NE NY WV) (Uses small grasshoppers)
pulawskii R. Bohart 1991 (TX only)
vierecki Rohwer 1909 (CA CO TX)
Miscophus (15 Nea) (Uses spiders)
americanus W. Fox 1890 (FL MD NE NJ NY NC PA VA)
slossanae barberi (Krombein) 1954 (FL only)
texanus (Ashmead) 1898 (TX only)
Trypoxylonini
Trypoxylon (32 Nea 16) (Uses spiders; most are hollow twig nesters, also stems, keyholes, preexisting burrows; nectar on Aster and Goldenrod)
albitarse Fabricius 1804 (NJ PA VA)
bridwelli Sandhouse 1940 (TX only)
carinatum Say 1837 (IN MD NC TX WV)
clarkei Krombein 1962 (MD VA WI) (favors Mangora in Krombein)
clavatum Say 1837 (CO FL GA KS NE NC MD MO NY TN TX VA WV)
(Krombein found 80% "wandering spider" use including Crab Spiders and Jumpers; 5-22 per cell; males assist at nest)
clavatum johannis Richards 1934 (FL GA)
collinum F. Smith 1856 (FL GA)
collinum rubrocinctum Packard 1867 (DE KS MO NC NE NY MD PA SC TN TX VA)
(males assist in nest protection; uses 100% orb weavers, mostly Araneidae and Theridion; 5-27 per cell; favored dead tree traps for Krombein; provisions in July and August in NY)
fastigium W. Fox 1891 (NE NC TX)
frigidum F. Smith 1856 (CA CO IA NE NM NY NC MO MD NV PA TX VA WV WI WY) (favors structural sites in Krombein)
johnsoni W. Fox 1891 (DC FL NC NJ MD MO NY TN VA WV) (favors Tetragnathids in Krombein)
lactitarse de Saussure 1867 (FL GA KS NE NC PA TN TX VA WV WI)
pennsylvanicum de Saussure 1867 (ID MD NC NY PA VA WV WI)
politum Say 1837 (FL IN LA MD NE NC SC TX VA WV) (favors Araneidae; 2-17 per cell; pipe organ mud nests)
richardsi Sandhouse 1940 (MD TX VA WV)
spinosum Cameron 1889 (TX only)
texense Saussure 1867 (FL CO IL KS NE NM TX)
tridentatum Packard 1867 (AZ CA FL KS LA MD MO NE NC NJ NY NV UT VA WV)
(favors Araneidae, occasionally takes Black Widows, males assist at nest, Krombein found only orb weavers in nests; all one species in some studies; 7-12 per cell; prefers open areas)
tridentatum archboldi Krombein 1959 (FL only)
Bothynostethini
Bothynostethus (1 Nea) (Uses Chrysomelids; remodels tunnels)
distinctus W. Fox 1891 (CO FL KS NJ NC) (4-9 per cell)
CRABRONINAE (94)
Oxybelini
Belomicrus (40 Nea) (Uses bee flies and Myrids; nests in sandy soils)
bridwelli Pate 1940 (FL TN VA)
potawatomi Pate 1947 (IA)
Oxybelus (41 Nea 17) (Uses Dipterids esp. Muscoidea; prey impaled on sting or held by middle legs; nests in sandy soil; loose aggregations)
bipunctatus Olivier 1812 (ME MD NY PA) (favors Stratiomyiidae; 2-12 per cell)
crandalli Bohart and Schlinger 1956 (AZ AR)
cressonii Robertson 1889 (MI NE NC PA TX UT VA)
decorosus (Mickel) 1916 (NE PA WV)
emarginatus Say 1837 (CA CO FL IL IN KS MD MA NC NM NY TX VA WA WY) (favors Milichiidae; 4-38 per cell)
exclamans Viereck 1906 (CA FL KS NE NM)
inornatus (Robertson) 1901 (IL NC PA)
laetus Say 1837 (FL IL IN NC TX VA)
laetus fulvipes Ch. Robertson 1889 (FL)
major Mickel 1916 (NE NC)
mexicanus Ch. Robertson 1889 (IL)
niger Ch. Robertson 1889 (IL NY)
packardii Ch. Robertson 1889 (IA IL NE NM NC TX)
rancocas Pate 1943 (NJ)
sericeus Ch. Robertson 1889 (CA FL IL MS NE NY NC) (favors Otitidae; 3-14 per cell)
subcornutus Cockerell 1895 (CO NE NM NY PA TX)
subulatus CH. Robertson 1867 (CO IL NE ND NY) (uses Therevidae; 3-11 per cell)
uniglumis (Linnaeus) 1758 (CA CO ID IL KS MT NE NM NY PA UT) (favors Anthomyiidae; 2-13 per cell)
Crabronini (Provision nest with various groups as below; impaled on the sting)
Anacrabro (1 Nea) (Carries prey with mid and hind legs; nectars at Umbels, Composites)
ocellatus Packard 1866 (DC FL IL KS MD NE NY NC TX) (uses Miridae; 4-9 per cell)
Entomognathus (4 Nea)
arenivagus Krombein 1963 (FL NC)
lenapeorum Viereck 1904 (KS MD NJ PA VA)
memorialis Banks 1921 (KS MD NJ VA) (uses Chrysomelids; 3-9 per cell)
texanus Cresson 1887 (KS OK PA TX)
Lindenius (10 Nea)
armaticeps (W. Fox) 1895 (CO NE NC NY TX VA) (uses Chloropidae; 3-15 per cell)
buccadentis Mickel 1908 (AR NE NC NY VA WY)
columbianus (Kohl) 1892 (NE NC NM NY PA WA WY)
latifrons (W. Fox) 1895 (NC TX)
Rhopalum (7 Nea) (Uses
small
Diptera; nests in twigs,
reeds)
atlanticum R. Bohart 1974 (GA)
clavipes (Linnaeus) 1758 (NY)
coarctatum (Scopoli) 1763 (WV)
occidentalis (W. Fox) 1895 (NC NY NV)
pedicellatum Packard 1867 (CO CT NC NY OH WI)
rufigaster Packard 1867 (DC IL NC PA TX)
Moniaecera (5 Nea) (Uses Cicadellids; ground nester)
abdominalis (W. Fox) 1895 (AZ GA KS NM TX)
texana LeClerq 2003 (TX)
Crossocerus
(30 Nea 18) (Uses small
Diptera; carries prey venter up by midlegs;
nests in sandy or clay soil)
annulipes (Lepeletier and Brulle) 1835 (MD NC WV) (Uses leafhoppers; 14-30 per cell; nests in stumps or wood)
arnoldi Leclerq and Miller 2000 (VA)
barbipes (Dahlbom) 1845 (CO NC SD TN WA WV WY)
elongatulus (Vander Linden) 1829 (CT MA PA)
harringtonii (W. Fox) 1895 (MD NM WV)
impressifrons (F. Smith) 1856 (DC FL MA NE NC TX VA WV)
krombeini Leclerq and Miller 2000 (NY)
lentus (W. Fox) 1895 (FL IL KS MD NE NY NC PA VA WV)
maculiclypeus (W. Fox) 1895 (KS NJ NC PA)
minimus (Packard) 1867 (ME NC TX WV)
nitidiventris (W. Fox) 1892 (IL MD NC PA VA)
planifemur Krombein 1952 (MD NC WV)
similis (W. Fox) 1895 (FL NJ SC TX VA WV)
stictochilos Pate 1944 (MD NJ)
tarsalis (W. Fox) 1895 (NY NC VA WV)
tarsatus planipes (W. Fox) 1895 (KS MD PA)
unicus (Patton) 1879 (CT PA)
xanthochilos Pate 1944 (GA MD VA)
Crabro (46 Nea 20) (Holds prey venter up, beneath body by middle legs)
advena F. Smith 1835 (CO CT DC MA NY PA WA WV) (Uses cluster flies)
aequalis W. Fox 1895 (GA NJ NC ND)
arcadiensis R. Miller 1976 (FL)
argusinus R. Bohart 1835 (NE NY NC WA) (favors Ephydridae; 5-92 per cell)
atlanticus R. Miller 1976 (GA NC NJ)
cingulatus (Packard) 1867 (IL KS NE NC WA)
cognatus W. Fox 1895 (MT NE NC)
cribellifer (Packard) 1867 (CT IL MD NY VA)
digitatus R. Bohart 1976 (MI)
henrici Krombein 1951 (NJ)
hilaris F. Smith 1856 (FL NE NJ NC NY PA)
latipes F. Smith 1856 (NE NY)
monticola (Packard) 1867 (CT NH NY) (Nests in aggregations)
peltista Kohl 1888 (NC TX)
rufibasis (Banks) 1921 (FL)
snowii W. Fox 1896 (KS MD VA)
tenuiglossa (Packard) 1866 (IL NY)
tenuis W. Fox 1895 (CO NY NC PA WV)
tumidus (Packard) 1867 (NE NC PA TX)
vernalis (Packard) 1867 (CO IL NE)
Enoplolindenius (2 Nea)
clypeatus Rohwer 1911 (TX)
robertsoni (Rohwer) 1920 (IL GA NE)
Ectemnius (27 Nea 16) (Uses adult Diptera; nests in decayed wood, twigs)
arcuatus Say 1837 (IN ID CO NJ WA)
atriceps Cresson 1865 (CO ID MD NM NC PA WA WV WY)
continuus Fabricius 1804 (MD NC PA)
decemmaculatus (Say) 1823 (CT FL GA MO MN NC ND PA TX UT)
dilectus (Cresson) 1865 (CO CT NC ND ID IL UT WI)
dives (Lepeletier and Brulle) 1835 (CO CT ID IL MN NM NY NC PA WY)
lapidarius (Panzer) 1804 (AZ CA CO CT NY NC PA VA)
maculosus (Gmelin) 1781 (CO CT IL KY MD MI NE ND NC PA WA)
paucimaculatus (Packard) 1866 (MD IL) (favors Ephydridae; 7-31 per cell)
ruficornis (Zetterstedt) 1838 (CO KS NC WV)
rufifemur Packard 1866 (IL NE TX)
rufipes (Lepeletier and Brulle) 1835 (AL FL MO NE NC NY TX)
rufipes ais (Pate) 1946 (FL)
scaber (Lepeletier & Brulle) 1835 (NC PA)
scaber rufescens Krombein 1954 (FL)
stirpicola (Packard) 1866 (MD MO NY NC VA)
trifasciatus Say 1824 (CT MN NY WY)
Lestica (3 Nea)
confluenta (Say) 1837 (CO IN KS MA MO NE NY NC PA)
producticollis (Packard) 1866 (NJ NC VA WV)
NYSSONINAE (80)
Melinini
Mellinus (4 Nea)
bimaculatus Packard 1867 (CT IN NH NJ PA)
Alyssonini (16 NA spp)
Alysson (8 Nea) (Uses Homoptera - leafhoppers; nests in moist cool sites, sandy soil, gregarious)
conicus Provancher 1889 (MD NY PA)
guignardi Provancher 1887 (NM QU)
melleus Say 1837 (FL IN MA MD MO NE NY NC TN TX VA) (3-23 per cell)
oppositus Say 1837 (IN KS MD NY NC)
radiatus W. Fox 1894 (NE NC WY)
striatus W. Fox 1894 (DC)
triangulifera Provancher 1887 (CO IA KY MD NE NC NY)
Didineis (7 Nea)
dilata Malloch and Rohwer 1930 (WI)
latimana Malloch and Rohwer 1930 (MD)
texana (Cresson) 1873 (FL MD MO IA NC)
Nyssonini (50 NA spp) (Kleptoparasites of Gorytini and Larrini)
Hyponysson (2 Nea)
raui (Rohwer) 1917 (MO)
Nysson (23 Nea 9) (Kleptoparasites of Gorytes)
aequalis Patton 1879 (MA NE NC TX)
aurinotus (Say) 1837 (GA IN KS NE TX)
daeckei Viereck 1904 (NJ PA WY)
gagates Bradley 1920 (BC PA)
lateralis Packard 1867 (MD ND VA WV)
plagiatus Cresson 1867 (IL IA QU)
simplicicornis W. Fox 1896 (MI MO NE WV WY)
subtilis W. Fox 1896 (IL TX WV)
trichrus (Mickel) 1916 (NE NY TX)
Epinysson (12 Nea) (Parasites of Hoplisoides)
basilaris (Cresson) 1882 (GA NC ND)
mellipes (Cresson) 1882 (CO NE NJ NC TX VA)
opulentus (Gerstaecker) 1867 (CA GA MD NY NC TX VA)
tramosericus (Viereck) 1904 (NY PA)
tuberculatus (Handlirsch) 1887 (MD SC VA WI)
Zanysson (3 Nea)
(Parasitic on Tachytes)
plesius (Rohwer) 1921 (AZ LA NY NC)
texanus (Cresson) 1873 (KS NM NC TX)
Gorytini
Clitemnestra (1 Nea) (Uses Hemiptera; nests in sandy soil)
bipunctata (Say) 1824 (CA CT FL MA MD NJ NY NC PA VA WV WY)
Argogorytes (2 Nea)
nigrifrons (F. Smith) 1856 (MD NC TX)
Gorytes (16 Nea 6)
atricornis Packard 1867 (CT IL MA NE NY TX)
canaliculatus Packard 1867 (CA CO MD NE NC NY PA WY)
deceptor Krombein 1958 (TX WV)
dorothyae Krombein 1950 (NC TX)
dorothyae russeolus Krombein 1954 (FL)
mcateei Krombein and Bohart 1962 (MD)
simillimus F. Smith 1856 (DC ID IL NY NC PA VA WV)
Pseudoplisus (19 Nea 8)
apicalis (F. Smith) 1856 (GA NE NM)
californicus R. Bohart 1969 (CA TX)
divisus (F. Smith) (GA NE NC TX)
phaleratus (Say) (AZ CO CT FL IL IN MD MA NE NJ NM NY NC PA TX)
rufomaculatus (W. Fox) 1896 (NE TX)
smithii (Cresson) 1880 (IL KS NE TX)
smithii floridanus (W. Fox) 1890 (FL NE NC VA)
tanythrix R. Bohart 1969 (OK)
venustus (Cresson) 1865 (CO NM NC)
Oryttus (5 Nea)
gracilis (Patton) 1879 (CT NE ONT)
gracilis arapaho (Pate) 1938 (CO TX)
Psammaletes (3 Nea)
floridicus R. Bohart 2000 (FL)
mexicanus (Cameron) 1890 (NY NC TX VA)
Sphecius (4 Nea)
grandis (Say) 1823 (AR NV TX)
hogardii (Latreille) 1806 (FL only)
speciosus (Drury) 1773 (AR CO FL KS MD MO NE NY NC PA TX) (uses Cicadidae; 1-4 per cell)
Tanyoprymnus (1 Nea)
moneduloides (Packard) 1867 (LA NM NC TX)
Hoplisoides (17 Nea) (Uses Homoptera)
costalis (Cresson) 1873 (MO NC TX)
denticulatus (Packard) 1867 (GA IL LA NC TX)
floridicus R. Bohart 1968 (FL)
nebulosus (Packard) 1867 (GA NE NJ NC ND TX VA)
Stizini
Stizus (5 Nea) (Uses Tettagoniids)
brevipennis Walsh 1869 (CO IL IN KS MD NE NC)
Stizoides (2 Nea) (kleptoparasite of wasps in Prionyx which also take grasshoppers)
renicinctus (Say) 1823 (AR CO ID KS NE NM NC TX UT)
Bembecinus (6 Nea)
nanus (Handlirsch) 1892 (CA DC NC) (progressive feeders, favors leafhoppers and especially Dictyopharidae; 3 per cell)
neglectus (Cresson) 1873 (KS NE TX)
Bembecini (Fly hunters)
Bicyrtes (8 Nea) (Uses Pentatomids - stinkbugs)
capnoptera Handlirsch (UT NC US)
fodiens (Handlirsch) (TX NC East to SW)
insidiatrix Handlirsch 1889 (E S)
quadrifasciata (Say) (TX NC East) (favors Coreidae; 4-14 per cell) (18mm wasp)
ventralis (Say) (TX NC US) – (Holds prey upside down by middle legs) (metanotom with yellow spots)
Microbembex (8 Nea)
evansi R. Bohart 1993 (TX)
hirsuta J. Parker 1917 (TX)
monodonta (Say) (CO CT KS MO NE NC ND PA TX VA WY)
Stictia (3 Nea) (Uses Diptera esp. Horseflies)
carolina (Fabricius) (FL IL NC NM SC TX) (sometimes hovers around horses for its prey, sandy riverside soil in my area)
vivida (Handlirsch) 1890 (TX)
Bembix (19 Nea 7) (Serial feeders, Bembix females sometimes steal from each other)
americana spinolae Lepeletier (FL IL MA MD MO NC NY OH PA TX) (favors Muscidae)
belfragei Cresson 1873 (GA MI NE NC TX)
cinerea Handlirsch 1893 (FL GA NC)
hinei Parker 1917 (TX LA)
nubilipennis Cresson 1873 (CO IN MO NE NM TX)
pallidipicta F. Smith 1873 (CO NC NE NY OR) (sand)
texana Cresson 1873 (CO IL NC NM TX) (favors Tabanidae)
Stictiella (18 Nea)
emarginata (Cresson) 1865 (CO FL GA IN KS MI NE ND WY)
formosa (Cresson) 1873 (CO TX) (favors Libytheidae; up to 11 per cell)
pulchella serrata (Handlirsch) 1890 (FL GA NC) (Uses adult moths and butterflies)
Glenostictia (19 Nea) (Progressive provisioners)
pictifrons (F. Smith) 1856 (CA CO IN MI MO NE NC TX) (Uses Bombylid flies)
PHILANTHINAE (39)
Philanthini (Bee Wolves)
Philanthus (32 Nea 6)
albopilosus Cresson 1865 (CO IL IA MI NE ND OH)
bilunatus Cresson 1865 (CO IL MI NM NY NC QU) (Uses mostly Halictid bees, prefers firm coarse soil in wooded areas, less colonial)
gibbosus (Fabricius) 1775 (CT FL IL IN KS MA MD MI MO NE NY NC PA TX UT) (Uses mostly Halictid bees, colonies small and loose)
lepidus Cresson 1865 Live (CO MD MI MN NY NC PA TX) (Uses mostly Halictid bees, tight colonies in sparsely vegetated fine-grained sand)
politus Say 1824 (FL IL MI MN MO NY NC PA TX) (Uses mostly Halictids, rarely colonial, gathers then sorts bees)
sanbornii Cresson 1865 Live (FL KS MA MN NE NC) (Uses six or seven bee and wasp families, large colonies, one nest per season, flies mainly in June)
solivagus Say 1837 (CT IN MI NE NY ND)
ventilabris Fabricius 1798 (CA CO FL IL KS MI MN NY NC TX) (Uses Halictid bees and wasps; 3-15 per cell; more packed soils, shallower nests, closes nests when away)
Aphilanthopsini
Aphilanthops (4 Nea) (uses various ant species)
frigidus (F. Smith) 1856 (CO CT MI MN NE NC ND NY) (2-3 per cell)
Clypeadon (8 Nea)
dreisbachi (R. Bohart) 1959 (CO OK TX)
Cercerini Beetle Hunters
Cerceris (87 Nea 29) (Uses adult Coleoptera)
alaope Banks 1912 (NC VA)
arelate Banks 1912 (NC NY VA)
atramontensis Banks (MD NC NE)
bicornuta Guerin (IL LA MD MN NC NE NM TX)
blakei Cresson (FL GA KS NC)
clypeata Dahlbom (MN MO NC NE IL PA SC TX WV VA)
compacta Cresson (NM TX MD NC NE IL) (metanotom yellow)
compar Cresson (AZ FL IL IA KS NE NC)
crucis Viereck & Cockerelli (CO NM TX NC NE VA)
dentifrons Cresson (IL ND NE NC NY)
deserta Say (KS NC NE NY PA SD)
echo Mickel (NE NJ NV NC)
finitima Cresson (CA TX MN NE ND NC IL)
flavofasciata Smith (FL MO NE NC) (uses Chrysomelids; 12-30 per cell)
frontata Say (AR MO NM TX)
fumipennis Say (FL IN KS MD MO MN NC NY TN TX) (uses Buprestidae; 5-18 per cell) (wings black)
halone Banks (MD MN NC ND NE TX VA)
insolita Cresson (AZ IL MD NC NE NM TX)
jucunda Cresson (TX NC)
kennicottii Cresson (AZ IA LA NM TX NC)
mandibularis Patton (CT NE NC)
melanthe Banks 1947 (AZ NC)
nigrescens Smith (CO CA ID NY TX NC WA WY)
prominens Banks 1912 (NC VA)
rufopicta F. Smith 1856 (CT FL NE NC)
rufinoda Cresson (CO KS NC NE)
sexta Say 1837 (CO MO KS NE ND)
squamulifera Mickel 1916 (NE NC)
verticalis F. Smith 1856 (GA TX NC NE)
Eucerceris (26 Nea 2)
canaliculata (Say) 1823 (AR CO KS NM TX UT)
zonata (Say) 1823 (AR KS MA NE NM TX)
80 Genera
417 Species