Why does a bee wolf wasp inspect landmarks before leaving its burrow?

The bee wolf wasp (Philanthus triangulum) inspects landmarks before leaving its burrow to memorize the specific configuration of its surroundings, such as sticks, tufts of grass, and trees.1

Because the wasp's genes cannot provide it with knowledge of the unique landmark array around its nest, it must learn this information to successfully navigate back to the site after foraging for prey. During its departure flight, the wasp hovers over the nest and flies in increasingly wider arcs to scan the area, effectively creating a mental map that allows it to pinpoint the burrow's location upon its return. This behavior is a clear example of instinctive learning, where an animal is genetically predisposed to acquire specific, environmentally relevant information to solve a survival problem.1