Can you ID this winged insect?
June 22, 2016 10:22 AM Subscribe
Warning: the link goes directly to photographs of an insect. I apologize for the poor quality of the photos, which were taken from a safe distance and then cropped. Can you identify this bug?
Maybe a great black wasp? There are some great resources at that site to help you narrow it down. Here are some other wasps. (links go to bug pix)
posted by jessamyn at 10:26 AM on June 22, 2016
posted by jessamyn at 10:26 AM on June 22, 2016
Likely a member of the Sphecidae, the thin- waisted wasps. Could be a mud dauber of some sort.
posted by SaltySalticid at 10:29 AM on June 22, 2016
posted by SaltySalticid at 10:29 AM on June 22, 2016
Was going to say mud dauber. Agree with Sphecidae.
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 10:44 AM on June 22, 2016
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 10:44 AM on June 22, 2016
Sphecidae. Can't say much more than that, would need way more detail.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 11:22 AM on June 22, 2016
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 11:22 AM on June 22, 2016
Response by poster: Thanks all. I was thinking wasp, but didn't want to believe it because it's in the house--and this is the 4th I've found so far. So I guess I need to go looking for a nest. intermod, it's about an inch and a half long.
posted by mama casserole at 1:07 PM on June 22, 2016
posted by mama casserole at 1:07 PM on June 22, 2016
For the record, Spehcidae are generally not aggressive to humans and shouldn't bother you much if you ignore them. They will kill other bugs that might more serious pests. Some of them hunt spiders.
They are solitary wasps, and do not form large colonies. Just one mother/queen trying to rear her young. Finding four in your house as probably just an odd coincidence.
I had a nest right outside my door last year. It was fine. I mean, I didn't throw rocks at it or anything, that would be a good way to get attacked ;)
posted by SaltySalticid at 2:47 PM on June 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
They are solitary wasps, and do not form large colonies. Just one mother/queen trying to rear her young. Finding four in your house as probably just an odd coincidence.
I had a nest right outside my door last year. It was fine. I mean, I didn't throw rocks at it or anything, that would be a good way to get attacked ;)
posted by SaltySalticid at 2:47 PM on June 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
Do you have nests like these on your house? Mud dauber.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 3:46 PM on June 22, 2016
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 3:46 PM on June 22, 2016
« Older What's the general best-practices word for... | Alamo car rental billing me for damage I didn't do... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by humboldt32 at 10:24 AM on June 22, 2016