Sphex pensylvanicus, the great black wasp, is a species of digger wasp. It lives across most of North America and grows to a size of 20–35 mm (0.8–1.4 in). The larvae feed on living insects that the females paralyze and carry to the underground nest.
Great black wasps
![A great black wasp](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/35a435b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1975x1580+0+0/resize/880x704!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F01%2Fb8%2Fd14786c6478082da5e138783fc1e%2Fgreat-black-wasp.jpg)
Dan Mullen
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