Wildlife around Bath 22 September 2015

Field digger wasp (Mellinus arvensis) with prey © Ian Redding

Family: Crabronidae
A common digger wasp, typically associated with sandy habitats. This one was amongst several other species of diggers between woodland and pasture, around an old wood pile. The adult wasp will provision offspring with multiple flies, buried in tunnels up to around 40cm deep.

Ectemnius cephalotes Family: Crabronidae
Another predatory digger wasp, which tunnels in dead wood and provisions offspring with flies.

Ian Redding