Sand Digger Wasp
Mellinus crabroneus
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Hymenoptera
Family
Crabronidae
Genus
Mellinus
Sand Digger Wasp belongs to the family Crabronidae, order Hymenoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
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.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
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.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
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.
Climate change impacts on prey species
Habitat loss from agricultural intensification
Pesticide use reducing insect prey populations
Urban development and soil disturbance
Extreme weather events disrupting nesting sites
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Sand Digger Wasp (Mellinus crabroneus). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/sand-digger-wasp