Sapygid Wasp

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Sapygid wasps are a small family (in number of species) of small sized wasps.

They are a fairly rare group that don't get much comment in the general field guides, except the mention of their being solitary wasps that parasitize leaf-cutter bees.

Their physical appearance bears similarities with species from a few genera of sand wasps. However, sand wasps tend to have yellowish-green eyes, with a slightly different pattern on the thorax.

The top picture shows a Sapygid species from northern California.

© 2009 Patricia A. Michaels