tiphiid wasp
insect
Also known as: Tiphiidae
Quick Summary
Tiphiid wasps are a family of relatively small, slender wasps, typically black and often hairy. They belong to the order Hymenoptera, which also includes ants and bees.12
Tiphiid wasps are parasitic, with their larvae feeding on the grubs of various scarabaeid beetles. The adult female wasp locates a beetle grub in the soil, paralyzes it with a sting, and lays an egg on it. The wasp larva then consumes the grub from the outside.123
These wasps play a role in controlling insect pests, specifically targeting beetle grubs.4
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