sphec-, spheco-, sphek-, spheko-

The solitary wasps, a family of flying insects of the order Hymenoptera that have a long thin body and delicate wings.

Many species can sting and members of this family live in comparative isolation.

Large black, or rust-colored, wasp that preys on cicadas.

Any of various solitary wasps; such as:

• Mason wasp, a wasp that constructs nests of hardened mud or clay for the young.
• Digger wasp, a wasp that digs nests in the soil and stocks them with paralyzed insects for the larvae.
• Mud dauber, a wasp that constructs mud cells on a solid base in which females place eggs laid in paralyzed insect larvae.

An uncontrollable angst of wasps: While Olivia was picking plums in the garden, a winged insect termed hymenopter, flew by and stung her badly, giving her a case of spheksophobia, which she never overcame.