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Glite Dictionary
Sphecius speciosus

Sphecius speciosus

9.9
A large North American wasp with black or brown marks that hunts cicadas
  • noun
  • /ˈspɛkiəs spɛˈsiəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Sphecius speciosus
  • The Sphecius speciosus flies rapidly through the air, searching for cicadas to catch.

Examples

  • The Sphecius speciosus is often seen digging burrows in sandy soil.

  • I was startled by a Sphecius speciosus hunting in my backyard.

  • Scientists study Sphecius speciosus to learn about the relationship between wasps and cicadas.

  • The Sphecius speciosus is known for its distinctive coloration.

  • Have you ever seen a Sphecius speciosus in the wild?

  • In late summer, many gardeners notice the Sphecius speciosus darting between the plants.

  • A Sphecius speciosus can often be spotted resting on tree branches during the day.

Synonyms

cicada killer
vsSphecius speciosus
  • US
9.5

A large wasp that hunts cicadas

is the scientific name used by scientists for the same wasp

Surface Forms

Sphecius speciosus singular
Sphecius speciosuses plural

Morphology

Sphecius + speciosus

This is a taxonomic Latin binomial (genus + specific epithet). A learner who knows 'Sphecius' as a wasp genus will be able to infer it names a species of wasp, but the detailed sense ('large North American wasp that preys on cicadas') and the Latin epithet 'speciosus' are not transparently derivable by a B1 learner, so only partial understanding is possible.

Etymology

Sphecius speciosus is a large wasp that hunts and paralyzes 'cicadas' and then drags them into its nest for its young to eat. So, the name means 'a large wasp that preys on cicadas'.