Ampulicini

Ampulex

Distribution	Worldwide, but most diverse in the tropics.
Biology	Nest in hollow stems and crevices. Prey on cockroaches, which are paralysed and dragged backwards by the wasp to a suitable nest. The nest is provisioned with one or more cockroachs, each prey item being separated with a loose plug of plant debris.
References	Bohart, R.M. & Menke, A. S. 1976. Sphecid Wasps of the World: a Generic Revision. University of California Press, Berkeley, California. Brothers D.J. 1999. Phylogeny and evolution of wasps, ants and bees (Hymenoptera, Chrysidoidea, Vespoidea and Apoidea) Zoologica Scripta 28: 233–250. Finnamore, A.T. & Michener, C.D. 1993. Superfamily Apoidea (pp. 279-357). In GOULET, H. & HUBER, J. (eds). Hymenoptera of the World: an identification guide to families. Research Branch, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Canada, 668 pp.
Links	CATALOG OF WORLD SPHECIDAE sensu lato (= Apoidea excluding bees) compiled by Wojciech J. Pulawski (California Academy of Sciences).
Credits	Photographs © Simon van Noort (Iziko Museums)