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Wasps (Hymenoptera, Apocrita)

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References:

https://atlasoflife.org.au/resources/know-your-wasps

https://www.ozanimals.com/wildlife/Insect/Wasps.html

https://keys.lucidcentral.org/search/what-wasp-is-that/

Front Page of Interactive Key to Wasp Families

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Wasps (Hymenoptera, Apocrita)

Flower Wasps (Scoliidae, Thynnidae or Tiphiidae)

Parasitic wasps (numerous families)

Potter wasps (Vespidae, Eumeninae)

Sand or digger wasps (Crabronidae & Sphecidae)

Social or paper-nest wasps (Vespidae, Polistinae & Vespinae)

Spider wasps (Pompilidae)

Other wasps

Velvet Ants (Mutillidae)

Featured sightings

Abispa ephippium (Potter wasp, Mason wasp) at Throsby, ACT - 15 Jan 2026 by patrickcox

Delta bicinctum (Potter wasp) at Yarralumla, ACT - 6 Jan 2025 by Debbie05

Cryptocheilus bicolor (Orange Spider Wasp) at Fyshwick, ACT - 21 Mar 2025 by Tawny4

Cryptocheilus bicolor (Orange Spider Wasp) at Watson, ACT - 16 Feb 2025 by Harrisi

Ichneumonidae (family) (Unidentified ichneumon wasp) at Wodonga, VIC - 26 Dec 2024 by KylieWaldon

Sceliphron laetum (Common mud dauber wasp) at Yarralumla, ACT - 24 Dec 2024 by Gallpix

Rhagigaster ephippiger (Smooth flower wasp) at Kambah, ACT - 9 Dec 2024 by HelenCross

Polistes (Polistella) humilis (Common Paper Wasp) at Bruce, ACT - 30 Oct 2024 by kasiaaus

Latest sightings

Unverified Wasp (Hymenoptera, Apocrita) at Canyonleigh, NSW - 6 Feb 2026 by blacksheep

Ichneumon promissorius at Wantirna, VIC - Yesterday by Yarra

Unverified Parasitic wasp (numerous families) at Cook, ACT - 3 Feb 2026 by CathB

Evaniidae (family) at Cook, ACT - 3 Feb 2026 by CathB

Unverified Velvet Ant (Mutillidae) at Holder, ACT - 24 Jan 2026 by Miranda

Tanaostigmodes sp. (genus) (Undescribed) at Cotter River, ACT - 3 Nov 2025 by RAllen

Prionyx sp. (genus) at Mallacoota, VIC - 29 Jan 2026 by Pirom

Turneromyia sp. (genus) (Zebra spider wasp) at Pialligo, ACT - 19 Jan 2026 by Pirom

Labium sp. (genus) at Pialligo, ACT - 21 Jan 2026 by Pirom

Priocnemis sp. (genus) at Pialligo, ACT - 21 Jan 2026 by Pirom

Cerceris (genus) at Pialligo, ACT - 21 Jan 2026 by Pirom

Cryptocheilus sp. (genus) (Spider wasp) at Pialligo, ACT - 21 Jan 2026 by Pirom

Stilbum cyanurum at Pialligo, ACT - 19 Jan 2026 by Pirom

Unverified Potter wasp (Vespidae, Eumeninae) at Hackett, ACT - 2 Feb 2026 by WalterEgo

Glabridorsum stokesii (A parasitic wasp) by CathB

Pseudabispa bicolor (A potter wasp) at Doyalson North, NSW - 3 Feb 2026 by BloomingAussie

Pompilidae (family) at O'Malley, ACT - 2 Feb 2026 by Mike

Abispa ephippium (Potter wasp, Mason wasp) at O'Malley, ACT - 2 Feb 2026 by Mike

Unverified Wasp (Hymenoptera, Apocrita) at Kambah, ACT - 1 Feb 2026 by JohnBundock

Paralastor sp. (genus) by Mags

Bothriomutilla rugicollis (Mutillid wasp or velvet ant) at Yarralumla, ACT - 1 Feb 2026 by KMcCue

Enicospilus sp. (genus) at Theodore, ACT - 31 Jan 2026 by Cardy

Delta bicinctum (Potter wasp) at Braidwood, NSW - 31 Jan 2026 by MatthewFrawley

Guerinius shuckardi (Smooth flower wasp) at Tharwa, ACT - 25 Jan 2026 by Harrisi

Callibracon capitator at Parkes, ACT - 28 Jan 2026 by chriselidie

Unverified Wasp (Hymenoptera, Apocrita) at Parkes, ACT - 28 Jan 2026 by chriselidie

Abispa ephippium (Potter wasp, Mason wasp) at Nicholls, ACT - 28 Jan 2026 by Rosie

Chrysididae (family) (Cuckoo wasp or Emerald wasp) at Crowther, NSW - 27 Jan 2026 by Frecko

Delta bicinctum (Potter wasp) at Forde, ACT - 26 Jan 2026 by chriselidie

Podagrionini (tribe) (Unidentified mantis parasite wasp) at Kambah, ACT - 27 Jan 2026 by HelenCross

Polistes (Polistella) humilis (Common Paper Wasp) at Higgins, ACT - 26 Jan 2026 by AlisonMilton

Polistes (Polistella) humilis (Common Paper Wasp) at Higgins, ACT - 26 Jan 2026 by AlisonMilton

Polistes (Polistes) chinensis (Asian paper wasp) at Higgins, ACT - 26 Jan 2026 by AlisonMilton

Braconidae (family) (Unidentified braconid wasp) at Higgins, ACT - 26 Jan 2026 by AlisonMilton

Unverified Wasp (Hymenoptera, Apocrita) at Higgins, ACT - 26 Jan 2026 by AlisonMilton

Gavrana sp. (genus) (A parasitic wasp) by chriselidie

Diamma bicolor (Blue ant, Bluebottle ant) at Undefined - 23 Jan 2026 by SWishart

Cryptocheilus sp. (genus) (Spider wasp) at Dunlop, ACT - 26 Jan 2026 by Thurstan

Cryptocheilus sp. (genus) (Spider wasp) at Dunlop, ACT - 23 Jan 2026 by AlisonMilton

Polistes (Polistes) chinensis (Asian paper wasp) at Dunlop, ACT - 23 Jan 2026 by AlisonMilton

Thynnidae (Family) (Thynnid Flower Wasps) at Dunlop, ACT - 23 Jan 2026 by AlisonMilton

Unverified Wasp (Hymenoptera, Apocrita) at Dunlop, ACT - 23 Jan 2026 by AlisonMilton

Unverified Wasp (Hymenoptera, Apocrita) at Curtin, ACT - 22 Jan 2026 by AlisonMilton

Unverified Parasitic wasp (numerous families) at Curtin, ACT - 22 Jan 2026 by AlisonMilton

Unverified Wasp (Hymenoptera, Apocrita) at Lyons, ACT - 25 Jan 2026 by ran452

Paralastor sp. (genus) (Potter Wasp) by leith7

Epsilon (Genus) (Potter Wasp) by LisaH

Austroscolia soror (Blue Flower Wasp) at Crowther, NSW - 21 Jan 2026 by Frecko

Cerceris sp. (genus) at Acton, ACT - 21 Jan 2026 by Angus44

Leucospis sp. (genus) at Bonython, ACT - 20 Jan 2026 by RodDeb

Cryptocheilus sp. (genus) (Spider wasp) at Hackett, ACT - 18 Jan 2026 by abread111

Cryptocheilus sp. (genus) by ChrisSutevski

Pachycoelius sp. (genus) by ChrisSutevski

Scolia (Discolia) verticalis (Yellow-headed hairy flower wasp) at Cotter River, ACT - 18 Jan 2026 by regeraghty

Austroscolia soror (Blue Flower Wasp) at Bungonia, NSW - 18 Jan 2026 by glbn1

Austroscolia soror (Blue Flower Wasp) at Earlwood, NSW - 19 Jan 2026 by LyndalT

Ropalidia plebeiana (Small brown paper wasp) at Kingston, ACT - 17 Jan 2026 by regeraghty

Austroscolia soror (Blue Flower Wasp) at Kambah, ACT - 18 Jan 2026 by HelenCross

Ropalidia plebeiana (Small brown paper wasp) at Cook, ACT - 12 Jan 2026 by CathB

Sceliphron laetum (Common mud dauber wasp) at Tumut, NSW - 17 Jan 2026 by SandraH

Unverified Parasitic wasp (numerous families) at Aranda, ACT - 17 Jan 2026 by CathB

Polistes (Polistes) chinensis (Asian paper wasp) at Dunlop, ACT - 17 Jan 2026 by Jennybach

Braconidae (family) at Scullin, ACT - 15 Jan 2026 by AlisonMilton

Heteropelma scaposum (Two-toned caterpillar parasite wasp) by chriselidie

Australelis anthracina (Flower wasp) at Pialligo, ACT - 15 Jan 2026 by Pirom

Abispa ephippium (Potter wasp, Mason wasp) at Throsby, ACT - 15 Jan 2026 by patrickcox

Crabroninae (subfamily) (Unidentified solitary wasp) by ChrisSutevski

Sceliphron laetum (Common mud dauber wasp) at Theodore, ACT - 14 Jan 2026 by ChrisSutevski

Podalonia tydei (Caterpillar-hunter wasp) by ChrisSutevski

Cerceris sp. (genus) by ChrisSutevski

Paralastor sp. (genus) (Potter Wasp) at Theodore, ACT - 15 Jan 2026 by ChrisSutevski

Thynninae (subfamily) (Smooth flower wasp) by ChrisSutevski

Eumeninae (subfamily) at Lyons, ACT - 14 Jan 2026 by ran452

Pseudabispa bicolor (A potter wasp) at Yarralumla, ACT - 13 Jan 2026 by PeterA

Austroscolia soror (Blue Flower Wasp) at Aranda, ACT - 11 Jan 2026 by CathB

Austroscolia soror (Blue Flower Wasp) at Aranda, ACT - 11 Jan 2026 by CathB

Delta bicinctum (Potter wasp) at Yarralumla, ACT - 13 Jan 2026 by PeterA

Unverified Parasitic wasp (numerous families) at Higgins, ACT - 11 Jan 2026 by AlisonMilton

Isodontia sp. (genus) at Kambah, ACT - 12 Jan 2026 by HelenCross

Callibracon sp. (genus) (A White Flank Black Braconid Wasp) at O'Connor, ACT - 9 Jan 2026 by Hejor1

Pseudabispa bicolor (A potter wasp) at Uriarra Village, ACT - 11 Jan 2026 by Harrisi

Chalcididae (family) (Unidentified chalcid wasp) at O'Connor, ACT - 9 Jan 2026 by Hejor1

Paraphylax anax at O'Connor, ACT - 9 Jan 2026 by Hejor1

Chalcididae (family) at O'Connor, ACT - 9 Jan 2026 by Hejor1

Scelionidae (family) at O'Connor, ACT - 9 Jan 2026 by Hejor1

Gasteruption (genus) (Gasteruptiid wasp) at O'Connor, ACT - 9 Jan 2026 by Hejor1

Apocrita (suborder) at O'Connor, ACT - 9 Jan 2026 by Hejor1

Crabronidae (family) at O'Connor, ACT - 9 Jan 2026 by Hejor1

Paralastor sp. (genus) at O'Connor, ACT - 9 Jan 2026 by Hejor1

Braconidae (family) at O'Connor, ACT - 9 Jan 2026 by Hejor1

Gotra sp. (genus) at O'Connor, ACT - 9 Jan 2026 by Hejor1

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Discussion

HelenCross wrote:

6 Feb 2026

Wow, a Gall Wasp!

Tanaostigmodes sp. (genus) (Undescribed)

RAllen wrote:

6 Feb 2026

Yep that’s unmistakeable

Tanaostigmodes sp. (genus) (Undescribed)

Heinol wrote:

6 Feb 2026

Always very striking! But have a look at https://canberra.naturemapr.org/sightings/3364373.

Tanaostigmodes sp. (genus) (Undescribed)

KimberiRP wrote:

28 Jan 2026

Not a beetle. Probably a wasp of family Bethylidae.

Bethylidae (family)

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

20 Jan 2026

Yellow markings on head make me think this is not a Blue flower wasp, but perhaps another Austoscolia species

Scolia (Discolia) verticalis

Significant sightings

Species Richness Score (SRS)

683

Top contributors

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AlisonMilton 474
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KylieWaldon 249
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CathB 226
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831,252 sightings of 23,585 species from 15,311 members
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