sphecoid wasp

The term "sphecoid" refers to an insect belonging to the superfamily Sphecoidea. This superfamily includes solitary wasps, commonly known as thread-waisted wasps, belonging to the family Sphecidae.123

These wasps are characterized by a stalk-like anterior section of their abdomen and are typically over 2.5 cm (1 inch) long. They are parasitic on insects and spiders, paralyzing their prey by pinching or stinging before placing it in a mud cell to be consumed by the hatched larva. Different tribes within this group provision their cells with various prey, including caterpillars, spiders, or cockroaches. Some thread-waisted wasps, like mud daubers, build nests from mud, while others, such as the tribe Chlorionini, nest in the ground.2