Nick Upton / Heath sand wasp (Ammophila pubescens) carrying a caterpillar it has paralysed to its nest as food for its larvae, Studland heath, Dorset, UK, July.

Andy Sands / Sand Wasp (Ammophila pubescens) carrying paralysed caterpillar of Beautiful Yellow Underwing moth (Anarta myrtilli) back to burrow, Surrey, UK, August

Andy Sands / Sand Wasp (Ammophila pubescens) carrying paralysed caterpillar of Common heath moth (Ematurga atomaria) back to burrow, Surrey, UK, August

Andy Sands / Sand Wasp (Ammophila pubescens) carrying paralysed caterpillar of Common heath moth (Ematurga atomaria) back to burrow, Surrey, UK, August

Nick Upton / Heath sand wasp (Ammophila pubescens) excavating a nest burrow in a bare sandy patch of heathland, flying back and forth, carrying away balls of sand between its mandibles and its raised front legs, D...

Nick Upton / Heath sand wasp (Ammophila pubescens) excavating a nest burrow in a bare sandy patch of heathland, flying back and forth, carrying away balls of sand between its mandibles and its raised front legs, D...

Nick Upton / Heath sand wasp (Ammophila pubescens) excavating a nest burrow in a bare sandy patch of heathland, flying back and forth, carrying away balls of sand between its mandibles and its raised front legs, D...

Nick Upton / Mottled bee fly (Thyridanthrax fenestratus) standing on bare sand near nest burrows of the Heath sand wasp (Ammophila pubescens) which its larvae parasitise, Dorset heathland, UK, May.

Nick Upton / Heath sand wasp (Ammophila pubescens) carrying a small stick to place in the entrance to its nest burrow to exclude parasites while it hunts for more caterpillars to feed its larvae, Dorset heathland,...

Nick Upton / Heath sand wasp (Ammophila pubescens) positioning a small stick in the entrance to its nest burrow to exclude parasites while it hunts for more caterpillars to feed its larvae, Dorset heathland, UK, J...

Nick Upton / Heath sand wasp (Ammophila pubescens) positioning a small stick in the entrance to its nest burrow to exclude parasites while it hunts for more caterpillars to feed its larvae, Dorset heathland, UK, J...

Nick Upton / Heath sand wasp (Ammophila pubescens) excavating a nest burrow in a bare sandy patch of heathland, carrying a ball of sand between its mandibles and its raised front legs, Dorset, UK, June.

Nick Upton / Heath sand wasp (Ammophila pubescens) carrying a paralysed Beautiful yellow underwing moth (Anarta myrtilli) held in its jaws back to its burrow to feed its growing larva, Dorset heathland, UK, July.

Nick Upton / Heath sand wasp (Ammophila pubescens) carrying a paralysed caterpillar held in its jaws back to its burrow to feed its growing larva, Dorset heathland, UK, July.

Nick Upton / Heath sand wasp (Ammophila pubescens) pulling a paralysed caterpillar held in its jaws into its burrow to feed its growing larva, Dorset heathland, UK, June.

Nick Upton / Heath sand wasp (Ammophila pubescens) carrying a paralysed caterpillar held in its jaws back to its burrow to feed its growing larva, Dorset heathland, UK, June.

Nick Upton / Heath sand wasp (Ammophila pubescens) excavating a nest burrow in a bare sandy patch of heathland, Dorset, UK, May.

Nick Upton / Heath sand wasp (Ammophila pubescens) feeding on Lesser hawkbit (Leontodon saxatilis) flowers among coastal sand dunes, Dorset heathland, UK, May.

Nick Upton / Heath sand wasp (Ammophila pubescens) sunning on sand dunes in hot sunshine and raising its legs, Dorset heathland, UK, May.

Nick Upton / Heath sand wasp (Ammophila pubescens) moving a small stick it had placed to block the entrance to its burrow before dragging in a paralysed caterpillar to feed its growing larva, Dorset heathland, UK,...