Will they visit?: Sand Wasps frequently visit home gardens
Natural Distribution: Common and widespread throughout the South West and Perth region
Bembix – (CC)Jean Hort. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia License (Atlas of Living Australia)
Bembix – (CC)Reiner Richter. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia License (Atlas of Living Australia)
Bembix – (CC)Reiner Richter. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia License (Atlas of Living Australia)
Bembix – (CC)simono. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia License (Atlas of Living Australia)
Habitat at a Glance
See Habitat Guide for more detail
Shelter: Small burrows in loose sand
Diet: Flying insects and nectar
Water: Shallow bird baths
ReWild Benefit: Pest control and pollination
Habitat Guide - Shelter
Natural Shelter
As their name indicates, Sand Wasps prefer sandy areas where they can dig small burrows. Allocate patches of sand around the garden with minimal mulch or loose leaf litter to provide areas for Sand Wasps to nest. Some species make small colonies and a generally peaceful around the garden.
Novel Shelter
Not required.
Habitat Guide - Food and Water
Providing natural sources of food
Sand wasps feed on nectar and hunt for small flying insects (particularly bushflies and march flies) around the garden. They are excellent hunters and aerobically capture flying insects on the wing. Plant a diverse garden to provide a large range of foraging habitat.
Avoid commercial non-native seeds advertised for bee gardens. These plants may not be suitable for native wasps and have the potential to become serious weeds.
Providing sources of water
Sand wasps will visit bird baths and ponds for a drink. Wasps run the risk of drowning if they fall into a bird bath or pond. Placing partially submerged rocks or sticks will provide an avenue for a bee to safely leave the water.
ReWild Benefits
Sand wasps are not aggressive and opt to retreat to the safety of their nest, but will sting if handled. Native wasps are critical in sustaining local biodiversity as they can pollinate a greater variety of native plants compared to honeybees. Similarly, they prey on pest species such as flies. If you see this wasp in your garden, you can record your sighting on the Atlas of Living Australia.
