Insect and Spider Identification: CLOSED: I don't know WHAT this thing is!, 3 by TMWTim

TMWTim wrote:
Ok this guy/gal showed up on my deck about 2:00am last night. I go out on the deck many times at night so I would think it actually landed on my deck (flying at night?). It was flopping around in obvious distress and eventually died. I have never seen anything like it before here in south Texas.

I have looked all over the internet and have a couple of possibilities but have found zero pictures clearly identifying it.


1. Carpenter bee - Mine is longer and more narrow, easily 3 inches, covered in 'fur', has large 'lobster' claws and longer wings. It also has smaller claws but the larger ones are easily seen in the picture.

2. Mantid fly - They are much smaller, multi colored and lack the 'fur'.


Thanks for any info. Myself, my wife and several 100 Facebook friends are curious.


Any help would be great!