# 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.

- **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.

## About

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.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/d644c19c-83c8-484d-9d5f-53eeb99d0198
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/136466
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myzinum quinquecinctum
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/22116758/medium.jpg (Judy Gallagher, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.