Great Golden Digger Wasp

Live Video Capture of a Great Golden Digger Wasp
By: Eclipse

Sphex ichneumoneus, known commonly as the Great Golden Digger Wasp or great golden sand digger is a wasp in the family Sphecidae.

It is not an aggressive wasp. They tend to mind their own business even if you are just feet away.

It is identified by the golden pubescence on its head and thorax, its reddish orange legs, and partly reddish orange body.

This wasp is native to the Western Hemisphere, from Canada to South America, and provisions its young with various meal types of paralyzed Orthoptera aka Crickets.

This wasp is related to the Giant Cicada Killer Wasp (Sphecius speciosus). I have had one of these living on my porch for a good portion of this year. It also seems to be timid and just flies around a bit then proceeds to its home under my seat inside an abandoned bumblebee hole. (info: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Sphecius_speciosus/)

More Info:
https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-54_great_golden_digger_wasp.htm
https://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.asp?identification=Great-Golden-Digger-Wasp