sphecid

[ sfee-sid ]

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the Sphecidae, a family of solitary wasps, including the mud daubers, sand wasps, etc.

noun

1. a sphecid wasp.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sphecid¹

< New Latin Sphecidae, equivalent to Sphec- (stem of Sphex ) name of a genus (< Greek sphêx wasp) + -idae -idae; -id ²

Example Sentences

At some point a species of sphecid wasp experimented with stocking its nest with pollen instead of dead insects.

From Scientific American

At some point a species of sphecid wasp experimented with stocking its nest with pollen instead of dead insects.

From Scientific American

The tarantulas may be baby-eaters and sibling eaters and husband-killers, but the truly ghastly actor in this story is the Pompilid or Sphecid wasp, a spider's worst enemy.

From Slate