Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus)

*Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus)* is one of about 130 species of digger wasps known. These wasps sting and paralyze prey insects and drag them into their nests, in a hole in the ground. When the digger wasp eggs hatch, the young feed on the paralyzed insects. The shot on the right was taken in Waco, McLennan Co., Texas, in September, 2003, with a Canon EOS 10D and an EF 70-200 f/2.8 L IS lens.
The next two shots were taken in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in September, 2009, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender.