# Ornate-tailed Digger Wasp (*Cerceris rybyensis*) The Ornate-tailed Digger Wasp is a special insect that digs tunnels in the ground. It has a beautiful tail that looks like it's wearing a fancy coat! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Ornate-tailed Digger Wasp](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%28MHNT%29_Cerceris_rybyensis_dorsal_view_on_Tordylium_maximum.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%28MHNT%29_Cerceris_rybyensis_dorsal_view_on_Tordylium_maximum.jpg) ## Appearance The Ornate-tailed Digger Wasp has a stout body with striking bright yellow and black bands across its abdomen. Its face is often yellowish, and its 'ornate tail' features distinct patterns, making it easily recognizable from other wasps. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Crabronidae - **Genus:** Cerceris ## Interesting facts - Adult wasps drink nectar, but their kids only eat paralyzed insects. - Each baby wasp gets its own special underground pantry of paralyzed food. - They build complex tunnels that can be over a meter long! - This wasp is nicknamed "bee-wolf" because it expertly hunts bees! ## Special abilities - **Master Digger:** Ornate-tailed Digger Wasp can dig intricate underground tunnels because of its powerful legs, creating safe nurseries for its young. - **Paralyzing Sting:** Ornate-tailed Digger Wasp can deliver a paralyzing sting that helps them subdue prey like bees without killing them instantly. - **Navigation Whiz:** Ornate-tailed Digger Wasp can remember complex routes because of its excellent spatial memory, always finding its hidden burrow. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 12-32 mm - **Size:** 8-16 mm - **Lifespan:** 20-40 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults sip nectar from flowers, but their larvae munch on paralyzed bees stored in underground nests. - **Age differences:** Adults feed on nectar; larvae consume paralyzed insects. - **Primary Foods:** wild bees, hoverflies, other small insects - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Common furrow bee (*Lasioglossum calceatum*) — Main prey for larvae. - **Hunts:** Cliff furrow bee (*Halictus tumulorum*) — Also a primary food source. - **Depends on:** [Yarrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yarrow) (*Achillea millefolium*) — Adults feed on nectar. - **Parasitizes:** Ruby-tailed cuckoo wasp (*Hedychrum rutilans*) — Lays eggs in their nests. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low If you see a wasp, just watch it from a distance. They are usually friendly and won't bother you. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Ornate-tailed Digger Wasp? Compare the antennae, wings, waist, body hair and legs. Yellow and black stripes show up on bees, wasps and harmless mimics alike. Bee & Wasp Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Ornate-tailed Digger Wasp's wingspan? 12-32 mm ### How big is Ornate-tailed Digger Wasp? 8-16 mm ### How long does Ornate-tailed Digger Wasp live? 20-40 days ### How fast can Ornate-tailed Digger Wasp fly? 15 km/h ### What does Ornate-tailed Digger Wasp eat? Adults sip nectar from flowers, but their larvae munch on paralyzed bees stored in underground nests. ### Where is Ornate-tailed Digger Wasp usually found? Grasslands ### How does Ornate-tailed Digger Wasp hunt? Pursuit ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Ornate-tailed Digger Wasp: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ornate-tailed-digger-wasp)