Subject: Great Golden Digger Wasp, Sphex ichneumoneus, preparing her burrow

Location: Upshur County, West Virginia

Stock Number: 05-30156

Comment: This wasp is preparing her burrow by bringing up an "armful" of sand. Later she will capture and paralyze crickets or katydids, returning to her burrow with each victim and laying an egg on each.

We have other photographs showing this species with its katydid prey.