sphec-, spheco-, sphek-, spheko-

(Greek: wasp, wasps)

Sphecidae
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.

Sphecius speciosis
Large black, or rust-colored, wasp that preys on cicadas.
sphecoid
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.
spheksophobia (s) (noun) (no plural)
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.