Sphecidae

This is the largest family of solitary wasps, of which there are 115 species in the UK. They have the common name of Digger Wasps as most species nest in the ground. The Spechid wasps are more closely related to bees than other wasps and some classifications place these within the superfamily Apoidea.

These wasps prey on flies, beetles, aphids and many other insects. Each item of prey is deposited back in the nest in a cell along with the wasp's egg. The cell is then sealed and the adult wasp then leaves for good.