Stats

Lifespan

A few weeks

Size

Small

Diet

Insectivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

Solitary

Biome

Temperate grassland

Range

North America

Movement

Flight

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Venom

Status

Common

About

This metallic blue wasp builds mud nests in sheltered areas near human homes. It hunts black widow spiders and paralyzes them to provide fresh food for its larvae.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   egg

   A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
3. 3.
   subadult

   A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
4. 4.
   adult

   Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hymenoptera

Family

Sphecidae

Genus

Chalybion

Species

Chalybion californicum