Podalonia hirsuta

Podalonia hirsuta is a species of parasitoidal wasps in the family Sphecidae.

Subspecies

Podalonia hirsuta hirsuta

Podalonia hirsuta is similar to the sand wasps. It has a big black head, a black thorax, with a threadlike waist. The abdomen is black with a red-orange large band.
The females make their nests digging a burrow in a sandy area. The preys are generally large, hairless caterpillars of moths. In the paralysed caterpillars they lay their eggs.
Flight period extends from late March to mid-September in females, while males fly from June to September.

This species is present in most of Europe. This mainly coastal species commonly can be found in sandy soils.