Bug FAQCommon Thread-waisted Wasp
Ammophila procera · Order: Hymenoptera · Family: Sphecidae
The common thread-waisted wasp (Ammophila procera) lives in open, sandy areas where it can dig nests. It is widespread from southern Canada through the United States and Mexico into Central America. Adults drink nectar from flowers, and their larvae develop on captured caterpillars before emerging as winged adults.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Ammophila procera is the scientific name for the common thread-waisted wasp.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
They prefer open sites with soft or sandy soil that allow them to burrow nests.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Adult wasps feed mainly on flower nectar.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Eggs hatch in about two days, the larva feeds on a caterpillar for roughly five days, then pupates in the nest.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Their range includes southern Canada, the United States, Mexico, and extends into Central America.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 49 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Colorado, Massachusetts, Virginia, Louisiana.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Same family (Sphecidae)
Yellow-legged Mud-dauber WaspSceliphron caementariumCan sting
Common Blue Mud-dauber WaspChalybion californicumCan sting
Great Golden Digger WaspSphex ichneumoneus
Great Black Digger WaspSphex pensylvanicusCan sting
Gold-marked Thread-waisted WaspEremnophila aureonotata
Mexican Grass-carrying WaspIsodontia mexicanaSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammophila_procera
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.