digger wasp

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]

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • 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.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 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 — 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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