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Types of Wasps

Apocrita Wasp nest 100,000 plus different types of ants, bees, sawflies and wasps constitute the order Hymenoptera, the 2nd largest order of insects next to beetles.

The most common types of wasps encountered in the U.S belong to Apocrita the suborder, which is further divided along some 70 different families.

Because practical interest in different types of wasps commonly deals with identifying species that tend to build nests in and around residential areas, 4 of the most common wasp families are represented in this album. All the wasp species are capable of stinging humans.

Sphecid wasps rank among the most common and easiest wasps to identify. Their long, thin waists give them the common name thread waisted wasps. 4 of the 11 sphecid genera are represented here:

1) Digger Wasps in the genus Sphex.
2) Mud Daubers
3) Isodontia (Grass-carrying Wasps)
4) Ammophilia

Vespid wasps (family Vespidae) maybe pose the greatest concern to humans because of their habit of building nests in residential areas. Of specific concern is the fact that Vespid species tend to sting (multiple times) as a defensive mechanism, when their nests are threatened. The Bald faced Hornet, Paper Wasps (Polistes), and the Western Paper Wasp are examples of vespids.

The Tarantula Hawk is a member of the family Pompilidae. Fifteen different Pepsis species spend their lives hunting tarantulas.

Ichneumon wasps (family Ichneumonidae) are parasitic wasps that feed on insects too but they aren't known to be agressive around humans.