Five-banded Thynnid Wasp
Myzinum quinquecinctum
The female wasp digs into the hard earth to locate scarab grubs, paralyzes them with a precise sting, and lays an egg on them, leaving the grub paralyzed but alive to serve as a fresh food source.
- Scientific name
- Myzinum quinquecinctum
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Hymenoptera › Thynnidae › Myzinum
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Sandy fields, meadows, grasslands, and suburban gardens.
- Diet
- Adults feed on flower nectar (especially goldenrod and Queen Anne's lace); larvae are ectoparasitoids of underground scarab beetle grubs.
- Range
- North America, United States, Southern Canada
- Size
- 15 to 22 mm in length, with females being noticeably larger and stouter than the slender males.
- Lifespan
- Approximately 1 year, with the adult flying stage lasting only a few weeks in mid-to-late summer.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Widespread pesticide application, habitat loss due to intensive agricultural development, and lawn manicuring.
- Safe to approach?
- This species is harmless and non-aggressive to humans. Females possess a stinger but will only use it if trapped or roughly handled. Observe them safely on flowers from any distance. If stung, wash the area with soap and water and apply a cold compress; seek medical attention only if signs of a severe allergic reaction develop.
Myzinum quinquecinctum , the five-banded thynnid wasp , is a species of thynnid wasp in the family Thynnidae, found mainly in North America east of the Rocky Mountains.
Photo: Judy Gallagher, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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