Digger wasp

Digger wasp
Wasp Wasp, n. [OE. waspe, AS. w[ae]ps, w[ae]fs; akin to D. wesp, G. wespe, OHG. wafsa, wefsa, Lith. vapsa gadfly, Russ. osa wasp, L. vespa, and perhaps to E. weave.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of stinging hymenopterous insects, esp. any of the numerous species of the genus {Vespa}, which includes the true, or social, wasps, some of which are called {yellow jackets}. [1913 Webster]

Note: The social wasps make a complex series of combs, of a substance like stiff paper, often of large size, and protect them by a paperlike covering. The larv[ae] are reared in the cells of the combs, and eat insects and insect larv[ae] brought to them by the adults, but the latter feed mainly on the honey and pollen of flowers, and on the sweet juices of fruit. See Illust. in Appendix. [1913 Webster]

{Digger wasp}, any one of numerous species of solitary wasps that make their nests in burrows which they dig in the ground, as the sand wasps. See {Sand wasp}, under {Sand}.

{Mud wasp}. See under {Mud}.

{Potter wasp}. See under {Potter}.

{Wasp fly}, a species of fly resembling a wasp, but without a sting. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Digger wasp — Digger Dig ger, n. One who, or that which, digs. [1913 Webster] {Digger wasp} (Zo[ o]l.), any one of the fossorial Hymenoptera. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • digger wasp — n. any of various wasps from several families, that lay eggs on caterpillars, spiders, etc. that they have paralyzed and buried in nests dug in the ground …   English World dictionary

  • Digger wasp — Not to be confused with Digging wasp. Digger wasps Sphex pensylvanicus Scientific classification Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • digger wasp — noun solitary wasp that digs nests in the soil and stocks them with paralyzed insects for the larvae • Hypernyms: ↑sphecoid wasp, ↑sphecoid • Hyponyms: ↑cicada killer, ↑Sphecius speciosis …   Useful english dictionary

  • digger wasp — noun Date: 1880 a burrowing wasp; especially any of numerous usually solitary wasps (superfamily Sphecoidea) that dig nest burrows in the soil and provision them with insects or spiders paralyzed by stinging …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • digger wasp — noun a solitary wasp which excavates a burrow, filling it with paralysed insects or spiders for its larvae to feed on. [Families Sphecidae and Pompilidae: many species.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • digger wasp — dig′ger wasp n. ent any of numerous solitary wasps of the family Sphecidae that excavate nests, as in soil, and provision them with prey paralyzed by stinging • Etymology: 1840–50 …   From formal English to slang

  • digger wasp — any of numerous solitary wasps of the family Sphecidae, which excavate nests in soil, wood, etc., and provision them with prey paralyzed by stinging. [1840 50] * * * …   Universalium

  • digger wasp — noun Any of several solitary, predatory wasps, of the family Sphecidae, that nest in the soil Syn: sphexide …   Wiktionary

  • digger wasp — any of the recluse burrowing wasps that excavate nests in the ground and store in them insects that they paralyzed with their stingers …   English contemporary dictionary

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