solitary wasps

views updated May 18 2018

solitary wasps (order Hymenoptera, suborder Apocrita) Name generally given to wasps that do not live in colonies, e.g. potter wasps, mason wasps, and spider-hunting wasps. Mason wasps make nests from particles of sand and soil stuck together with saliva. The nests are found in the soil, in crevices in wood, and in stone walls, and are individually provisioned with paralysed prey for the larva.

solitary wasps

views updated May 23 2018

solitary wasps Wasps of the suborder Apocrita (order Hymenoptera) that do not live in colonies (e.g. potter wasps, mason wasps, and spider-hunting wasps). Mason wasps make nests from particles of sand and soil stuck together with saliva. The nests are found in the soil, in crevices in wood, and in stone walls, and are individually provisioned with paralysed prey for the larva.

More From encyclopedia.com