Great Golden Digger Wasp vs Pitted Resin Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Great Golden Digger Wasp | Pitted Resin Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sphex ichneumoneus | Anthidiellum strigatum |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Sphecidae | Megachilidae |
| Size | 18-28 mm | 6-9 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Farmland |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Throughout the United States and southern Canada | Europe, North Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Great Golden Digger Wasp
A large solitary wasp with a golden-furred thorax and orange-red legs that digs burrows in sandy soil. It provisions its nest with paralyzed katydids and crickets.
Did You Know?
It always performs a specific inspection routine of its burrow before dragging prey inside, a behavior famously studied by early ethologists.
Pitted Resin Bee
A small, stout bee with bold yellow and black markings that constructs free-standing resin nests on rocks and walls. It is widespread across Europe.
Did You Know?
Unlike most bees, it builds its nest cells as exposed resin lumps on open rock surfaces rather than hiding them in cavities.