Digging Wasps
Bembix
I observed and photographed sand wasps, Bembix sp. only at the Dungeness site in the summer of 2006, where most of these photos were taken. In summer 2007, I observed Bembix at the College site and at another site. Like Philanthus, Bembix also captures insects, digs and covers holes and lays eggs on insects they store in the holes.
Bembix digging movie 2 (requires QuickTime 7, college site)
In covering a hole, Bembix can excavate quite large areas of sand, in one case a ten-centimeter-long oval.
Excavation to cover hole | Excavation measured
Some Bembix species continue to supply insects to their developing young.
Bembix wasps can be identified by the stout body with yellow or white stripes and low, close-set antennae and an elongate proboscis | proboscis, microscope view. Like Philanthus, Bembix digs with its front legs, which have special adaptations for digging. Bembix adults also feed on flowers (lower left), in this case, Entire-leaved Gumweed, Grindelia integrifolia (see Entire-leaved Gumweed).
Bembix species can have white, greenish-white or yellow stripes (lower images and this face-on view).
