Great Black Wasp
What is great black wasp?
Key facts
The great black wasp (Sphex pensylvanicus) is a solitary digger wasp found across most of the United States, known for its large size and role as a pollinator.
Context
The great black wasp (Sphex pensylvanicus) is a species of digger wasp in the family Sphecidae [3]. It is a solitary insect that nests underground, and adults feed on flower nectar and pollen [2]. Females sting prey to paralyze it before carrying it to the nest, provisioning larvae with grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids [2]. The species is active in late summer, particularly July and August [1]. It lives across most of the United States, except the Pacific Northwest [1]. The great black wasp is a plant pollinator [2].
Documented claims
Questions and answers
Does the great black wasp sting?
Yes, females can sting, but they use it to paralyze prey for their larvae, not aggressively toward humans [2].
Are there black wasps in Canada?
The great black wasp is found across most of the United States, but not in the Pacific Northwest; its range may extend into southern Canada, but sources do not specify [1].
What attracts great black wasps?
They are attracted to flower nectar and pollen, so gardens with flowering plants are likely to draw them [2].
Sources
- great black wasp - Illinois Department of Natural Resources — dnr.illinois.gov (retrieved August 3, 2026)
- How To Identify & Get Rid Of Great Black Wasps — orkin.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
- The Great Black Wasp: Fierce Hunter, Gentle Garden Ally — beezzit.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)