| Sphex | |
|---|---|
| |
| Sphex pensylvanicus on a katydid | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Infraorder: | Aculeata |
| Superfamily: | Apoidea |
| Family: | Sphecidae |
| Subfamily: | Sphecinae |
| Genus: | Sphex Linnaeus, 1758 |
| Type species | |
| Sphex flavipennis Fabricius, 1793
| |
| Species | |
|
More than 130; see text | |
Wasps of the genus Sphex (commonly known as digger wasps) are cosmopolitan predators that sting and paralyze prey insects. Sphex is one of many genera in the old digger wasp family Sphecidae (sensu lato), though most apart from the Sphecinae have now been moved to the family Crabronidae.[1] There are over 130 known Sphex species.
- ^ Pulawski, Wojciech J. (25 April 2021) [2014]. "Family Group Names and Classification: and taxa excluded from Sphecidae sensu lato" (PDF). California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 14 January 2022.