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Sphecius convallis
This is one of 4 species of cicada-killer found in USA. S. convallis is found in WA, CO, CA, AZ and TX. Its colors are yellow and brown and it is very similar to the Western cicada-killer, S. grandis. Adult female wasps hunt cicadae, paralyse them and airlift them back to a burrow dug in sandy soil. There, the female lays an egg and the resulting larva eats the stored cicadae. These wasps are solitary but nest in colonies.
Sandy mine tailings near riparian vegetation at 4200'ASL
Spotted on Sep 19, 2011
Submitted on Nov 1, 2014
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