🐝 Ants, Bees & Wasps

Steel-blue Cricket Hunter

Chlorion aerarium

About Steel-blue Cricket Hunter

A large metallic blue wasp that hunts field crickets and mole crickets. It drags paralyzed prey into burrows to provision its nest cells.

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Did You Know?

It enters cricket burrows headfirst to sting and extract its prey from underground.

How to Identify Steel-blue Cricket Hunter

Steel-blue Cricket Hunter (Chlorion aerarium) belongs to the order Hymenoptera, family Sphecidae. Adults typically measure 18-28 mm.

Steel-blue Cricket Hunter Habitat

Steel-blue Cricket Hunter is found in deserts & drylands habitats, particularly across North America. This species has adapted to thrive in its preferred environment, where it can find suitable food sources and shelter.

Steel-blue Cricket Hunter Diet and Feeding

Steel-blue Cricket Hunter is a predatory species that actively hunts and feeds on other insects and small invertebrates. As a predator, it helps control populations of pest species and maintains ecological balance.

Where Is Steel-blue Cricket Hunter Found?

Steel-blue Cricket Hunter can be found in North America, where it inhabits deserts & drylands environments. Its distribution is influenced by climate, food availability, and habitat suitability.

Distribution Map

Where Steel-blue Cricket Hunter can be found

Is Steel-blue Cricket Hunter Dangerous?

Steel-blue Cricket Hunter belongs to the order Hymenoptera, which includes many stinging insects. While not typically aggressive, it may sting if threatened or handled. Stings can cause pain and swelling, and in rare cases may trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

Steel-blue Cricket Hunter Role in Nature

Steel-blue Cricket Hunter serves as a natural predator, helping to control populations of other insects. Predatory insects are valuable in both natural ecosystems and agriculture, where they reduce the numbers of pest species without the need for chemical pesticides.

Seasonal Activity

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Peak activity Moderate Low / dormant

Frequently Asked Questions About Steel-blue Cricket Hunter

What does Steel-blue Cricket Hunter look like?

The Steel-blue Cricket Hunter typically measures 18-28 mm.

Where is Steel-blue Cricket Hunter found?

The Steel-blue Cricket Hunter is found in North America and typically inhabits deserts & drylands environments.

What does Steel-blue Cricket Hunter eat?

The Steel-blue Cricket Hunter is a predator that hunts and feeds on other insects and small invertebrates.

Is Steel-blue Cricket Hunter dangerous to humans?

The Steel-blue Cricket Hunter belongs to the order Hymenoptera, which includes stinging insects. While not typically aggressive, it may sting if threatened or handled.

What is an interesting fact about Steel-blue Cricket Hunter?

It enters cricket burrows headfirst to sting and extract its prey from underground.

Cite This Page

APA:
InsectDiscover. (2026). Steel-blue Cricket Hunter (Chlorion aerarium). Retrieved from https://insectdiscover.com/insect/steel-blue-cricket-hunter

MLA:
"Steel-blue Cricket Hunter." InsectDiscover, https://insectdiscover.com/insect/steel-blue-cricket-hunter.