Grass-carrier Wasp Nesting

An unusual insect few people get to see is the "grass-carrier" wasp of the genus Isodontia. This wasp hasn't been recorded in Nebraska since 1920. The wasp gets its name because of its odd nesting
habits. The female wasp fills nest cavities with grasses and other plants, and tree crickets which are food for its young. The wasp in the video is filling the holes made in an "bee house" for Orchard bees. For more info, read the article at http://lancaster.unl.edu/NEBLINE/2009/july09/page07.pdf

Category:

Education

Tags:

• nature
• bee
• wasp
• insect
• wildlife
• entomology
• Nebraska
• University of Nebraska
• Lancaster County
• Extension

[UNLExtensionLanCo]

Tree crickets are whitish to light green, with slender bodies and long antennae. Their songs are mistaken for cicadas or even tree frogs. Subfamily Oecanthinae.

[LollipopZoo99]

I live in Southern NJ and discovered that we have a Grass Carrier Wasp using a carpenter bee hole. What caught our attention were the blades of grass sticking out of it, we were then able to observe the wasp bringing in additional ones. Amazing! We had never heard of this bee until now,nor has anyone I know, but we are spreading the word that they are around.We seem to have alot of tree crickets around here as well, so it's a perfect environment. Nature is so cool.

[VjedlickaSday]

What do tree crickets in Nebraska look like?