sand wasp

American  

noun

1. any of certain sphecid wasps of the subfamily Bembicinae that nest in the ground and are common along the seashore.

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sand wasp British  

noun

1. a solitary wasp of the subfamily Sphecinae, a subgroup of the digger wasps most of which nest in sandy ground

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Etymology

Origin of sand wasp

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

The cooler a female thistledown stays, the more time she can spend on her life’s true purpose: wandering the desert in search of sand wasp burrows to parasitize.

From New York Times

The way in which the Bembex, or Sand Wasp, provisions burrows by maternal foresight is much less mechanical than that of the Sphex.

From Project Gutenberg

Astonishing nonsense is often spoken of the sand wasp's knowledge of anatomy.

From Project Gutenberg