Mexican grass-carrying wasp

Mexican grass carrying wasp Isodontia mexicana

The adult form of the Mexican grass-carrying wasp (Isodontia mexicana) feeds on nectar and pollen. It can reach a length of up to 20 millimetres, the forebody is white-haired, the wings can have a bluish sheen.

Mexican grass carrying wasp

The insect, which belongs to the Sphecidae family, was originally native to North America and Central America. Meanwhile, it can also be found in some European regions, in France, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands and occasionally also in Great Britain (source).

Isodontia mexicana

Although the imagines (adults) feed vegetarian, they hunt crickets, grasshoppers and other insects. These serve as food for their larvae.

Mexican grass carrying wasp on gooseneck loosestrife
Neither the Mexican grass-carrying wasp nor Lysimachia clethroides (gooseneck loosestrife), on whose flowers it is seen here, originate from Europe. The plant, which belongs to the primrose family, seems to be popular with these insects; I was able to observe several specimens on it.

Categories: Insects