Sand Digger Wasp
CR

Sand Digger Wasp

Mellinus crabroneus

Unknown

Photo: Photo: (c) Bykova Elvira, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Bykova Elvira

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Sand Digger Wasp faces severe population declines due to widespread habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development that destroys the sandy soils essential for nesting. Climate change and increased frequency of extreme weather events further threaten remaining populations by altering prey availability and disrupting reproductive cycles.

Threat summary

Habitat

Sandy heathlands, coastal dunes, quarries, and other areas with well-drained sandy or gravelly soils where females can excavate burrows for nesting. The species requires open sunny areas with sparse vegetation and abundant populations of small flies which serve as prey for provisioning larvae.

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gewone vlinderdoderCR

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ivoorwespCR

ivoorwesp

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Sand Digger Wasp classified as Critically Endangered?
Sand Digger Wasp is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Sand Digger Wasp faces severe population declines due to widespread habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development that destroys the sandy soils essential for nesting. Climate change and increased frequency of extreme weather events further threaten remaining populations by altering prey availability and disrupting reproductive cycles.
Where does Sand Digger Wasp live?
Sand Digger Wasp occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Sand Digger Wasp?
The main threats to Sand Digger Wasp are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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