The Orange Wasp is a common name used to describe a number of different species of wasps in Australia. Sometimes described as Orange and Black Wasps, they include Delta philantes (Delta Wasp), Pseudabispa bicolor ssp. nigrocinctoide (Potter Wasp), Cryptocheilus bicolor (Spider Wasp), Delta latreillei (Orange-tailed Potter Wasp) and Abispa ephippium (Mud-nest Wasp).

Pseudabispa bicolor ssp. nigrocinctoides (Potter Wasp), Alice Springs, NT
Pseudabispa bicolor ssp. nigrocinctoides (Potter Wasp), Alice Springs, NT

Delta latreillei (Orange-tailed Potter Wasp) and Abispa ephippium (Mud-nest Wasp), are sometimes mistaken for each other, but are obviously different when seen together. Whilst adult members of the species feed on flower nectar, they also hunt for caterpillars to feed their larvae.

Abispa ephippium (Mud-nest Wasp) and Delta latreillei (Orange Potter Wasp), Alice Springs NT
Abispa ephippium (Mud-nest Wasp) and Delta latreillei (Orange Potter Wasp), Alice Springs NT
Abispa ephippium (Mud-nest Wasp), Alice Springs NT
Abispa ephippium (Mud-nest Wasp), Alice Springs NT
Orange-tailed Potter Wasp (Delta latreillei), Alice Springs NT
Delta latreillei (Orange-tailed Potter Wasp), Alice Springs NT

Another species sometimes called an Orange Wasp, but it is more commonly known as the Spider Wasp and the Orange Spider Wasp (Cryptocheilus bicolor). As their common name implies, they hunt for spiders to feed their larvae.

Orange Spider Wasp (Cryptocheilus bicolor), Alice Springs NT
Orange Spider Wasp (Cryptocheilus bicolor), Alice Springs NT
Cryptocheilus bicolor (Spider Wasp), Alice Springs NT
Cryptocheilus bicolor (Spider Wasp), Alice Springs NT

and a smaller version of Cryptocheilus bicolor, is the following Cryptocheilus (yet to be ID to species), rescued from a swimming pool.

Spider Wasp (genus Cryptocheilus, family Pompilidae), Alice Springs NT
Spider Wasp (genus Cryptocheilus, family Pompilidae), Alice Springs NT
Spider Wasp (genus Cryptocheilus, family Pompilidae), Alice Springs NT
Spider Wasp (genus Cryptocheilus, family Pompilidae), Alice Springs NT

Size does not matter for the Orange wasps when collecting prey to take back to the nest for the larvae.

Potter Wasp (Delta latreillei) taking food back to mud nest, Alice Springs
Potter Wasp (Delta latreillei) taking food back to mud nest, Alice Springs
Cryptocheilus bicolor with prey (Neosparassus sp), Alice Springs NT
Orange Spider Wasp (Cryptocheilus bicolor) with prey (Neosparassus sp), Alice Springs NT

Fauna | Insects | Wasps | Wasps Index
Abispa ephippium | Cryptocheilus bicolor | Delta latreillei

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  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Order: Hymenoptera
  • Family: Vespidae
  • Subfamily: Eumeninae
  • Genus: there are some 200 genera containing over 3,000 species

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Order: Hymenoptera
  • Family: Vespidae
  • Genus: Abispa
  • Species: Abispa ephippium

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Order: Hymenoptera
  • Family: Vespidae
  • Subfamily: Eumeninae
  • Genus: Delta
  • Species Delta latreillei

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pgterygotes
  • Order: Hymenoptera
  • Superfamily: Vespoidea
  • Family: Vespidae
  • Subfamily: Eumeninae
  • Genus: Delta
  • Species Delta philantes

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Hymenoptera
  • Superfamily: Vespoidea
  • Family: Vespidae
  • Subfamily: Eumeninae
  • Genus: Pseudabispa
  • Species: Pseudabispa bicolor
  • Subspecies: Pseudabispa bicolor infrasp. nigrocinctoides

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthopoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Subclass: Pterygota
  • Order: Hymenoptera
  • Suborder: Apocrita
  • Infraorder: Aculeata
  • Superfamily: Pompiloidea
  • Family: Pompilidae
  • Subfamily: Pepsinae
  • Tribe: Pepsini
  • Genus: Cryptocheilus
  • Species: Cryptocheilus bicolor

WaspsWasps Index Australian Large Wasps Australian Mud Nest Wasps Mud Wasp Velvet Ants Abispa ephippium Acarozumia amaliae Aulacidae Australodynerus Bembix Bembicinae Bethylidae Blue Hairy Flower Wasp Braconidae Chrysididae Cryptocheilus Delta latreillei (Potter Wasp) Delta philantes Eumeninae Euodynerus aspra Ferreola handschini (Orange-collared Spider Wasp) Flower Wasps Gasteruptiid Wasp Hairy Flower Wasps Isodontia (Grass-carrying Wasp) Lissopimpla excelsa (Orchid Dupe Wasp) Mutillidae Orange Wasps Paralastor sp. Pseudabispa bicolor ssp. nigrocinctoides Radumeris radula (Yellow Hairy Flower Wasp) Radumeris tasmaniensis (Yellow Hairy Flower Wasp) Sceliphron laetum Sphex Thynnid Wasps Tiphiidae Torymus Yellow and Black Wasp

InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub