HYMENOPTERA > APOCRITA | Aculeata > Crabronidae > Astatinae (Astatidae)

A compact and robust (9-13mm body length), black and red species with distinctive large head and eyes. Confined to southern England, seen from June to August, mainly in sandy habitats, such as coastal dunes, inland heaths and on calcareous grasslands. The species preys on the nymphs of pentatomid bugs to provision its ground nests, hence its common name. Like the two Ammophila sand wasps, Astata boops covers her burrow entrance with soil or a small stone before going off hunting to help protect the nest from being parasitised by the cuckoo wasp Hedychridium roseum.