The sand wasp Bembix rostrata

Bembix rostrata is Flanders' largest so called digger wasp. They can grow up to 2,5 cm! The animal is a big friendly giant and, unlike many other wasp species, not aggressive. The females make nests in the sand with in each nest one larva which they bring prey: mainly hoverflies and other flies. They have a yellow-black abdomen with wavy bands and striking green eyes. On their front legs, they have large hairs used to dig in the sand. The typical habitat for this species is moss dune. They don’t like open drifting sand for their nests (their nests would collapse too quickly) but a dense carpet of dune grassland is no good either. So they like the transition that can be found in the moss dunes.