Bembix Fabricius 1775

This large genus occurs in all major zoogeographic regions and is the only representative of the subfamily in the Old World. These wasps nest in a variety of soils ranging from loose sand subject to blowing to hard-packed soil, and almost all species practice progressive provisioning. The more primitive species lay the egg on the first prey brought into the cell and the most advanced species place the egg in the empty cell. The nest may have a simple unicellular structure or it may contain up to 5 cells; accessory burrows are made by some of the more advanced species.

Bembix is a large cosmopolitan genus of large, often brightly colored predatory sand wasps, consisting of about 380 species.

Sand wasp in its habitat, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Bembix oculata female at her nest