Rolf Nussbaumer / Black and yellow Mud Dauber (Sceliphron caementarium) female collecting mud for her nest. Comal County, Hill Country, Central Texas, USA, July.

Piotr Naskrecki / Sand Wasp (Ammophila sp) carrying paralyzed caterpillar, on which she will lay her eggs in an underground burrow, Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique

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.

Nick Upton / Aphid wasp / sphecid wasp (Pemphredon sp) returning to nest burrow in the dead wood of oak tree base, Gloucestershire, UK, October.

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

John Abbott / Thread-waisted wasp (Ammophila sp.) Orange County, Florida, USA September

John Abbott / Blue mud wasp (Chalybion californicum) Bastrop County, Texas, USA. May

John Abbott / Thread-waisted wasp (Ammophila sp.) taking off, Travis County, Texas, USA. Controlled conditions. March

John Abbott / Thread-waisted wasp (Ammophila sp.) taking off, Travis County, Texas, USA. Controlled conditions. March

Nick Upton / Digger wasp (Sphex pruinosus) male sunning on a rock in hot sunshine and raising its legs, Lesbos/ Lesvos, Greece, May