Stink Bug Hunter

Meet Bicyrtes quadrifasciatus, a sand wasp without a commonly unused common name, though is sometimes called the Stink Bug Hunter because they'll hunt stink bugs. Their strategy is to find stink bug nymphs, paralyzes them, flies the stink bugs to a nest in the sand, and lays eggs on them; the stink bugs are food for the wasp's larvae. The adult wasps sustain themselves drinking nectar, so they not only help remove stink bugs but also help with pollination.

The invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug is on their menu - at least in their nymph stage - though it's not clear how effective they are at controlling stink bug populations.

August 18, 2020 at Duke Farms


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