Solitary wasps using the Nurturing Nature Observation Nest box

Solitary bees and solitary wasps in the same nest box?

Yes! In the same nest box! Besides being pollinators solitary wasps are fascinating to watch as they store the cavities with paralysed prey items, many of which may be garden pests. The prey items are used by the wasp larvae as provisions. This will open up a whole new world of education and fascination for you and your children, as it did for me. You can observe other solitary bees and harmless predatory solitary wasp species, sleeping, resting or nest making, using different nesting materials and techniques. The species list is increasing and could include:

Sapyga quinquepunctata,   a cleptoparasite of solitary bees;

Symmorphus bifasciatus, a predator of certain beetle larvae;

Ephialtes manifestator,   an Ichneumon wasp;

Gasteruption jaculator,  an Ichneumon wasp;

Isodontia mexicana, Grass carrying wasp, a recent migrant to the UK;

Passaloecus and Crossocerus species, predators of aphids;

Chrysidid species, Jewel or ruby tailed wasps with a very informative article and video

Ectemnius solitary wasp  a fly predator

Ancisrocerus gazella, a caterpillar predator

Auplopus carbonarius a spider-hunting wasp

A possible future candidate would be the spider-hunting Club Headed Wood Borer Wasp, Trypoxylon clavicerum 

Thanks to

Jeremy Early for identifying Ancistrocerus gazella

Kate Bradbury’s dad for the Auplopus carbonarius photograph

I am not a solitary wasp ‘expert’, I leave that to those who study them so these identifications may not be right!