digger wasp

noun

any of numerous solitary wasps of the family Sphecidae, which excavate nests in soil, wood, etc., and provision them with prey paralyzed by stinging.

digger wasp

any solitary wasp of the families Sphecidae and Pamphilidae that digs nest holes in the ground, rotten wood, or a hollow stem and stocks them with live insects for the larvae

First recorded in 1840–50

It is very wonderful that Mrs. Digger-Wasp knows where to sting a caterpillar in order to paralyze it and yet not kill it.

Well, Mrs. Digger-Wasp stings one or more of these little knots, which we call ganglia.

Chesterton's method in writing it is that of the digger wasp.

The young digger-wasp set to work upon the grasshopper, and the little ichneumon began to eat the wasp-grub.

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