I just followed a black insect (looked like a cross between a ant and a wasp, approx. 1" in length, wings about the length of the body) drag a carcass of a dead bug for 15' before it found its home, a hole in the ground. It trailed through grass almost in a straight line to its destination. The dead insect looked similar to a light brown cricket(?) the same size as the carrier. A couple of times it did fly/hop through the terrain so I know it will fly without the weight it was dragging. Does anyone know what it may be? Location is in southwest Michigan.
1" black insect with wings that burrows in ground
This would be a wasp in the family Sphecidae; these are several species in that family that specialize in choosing insects in the order Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, katydids, etc.) to provision their burrows where their larvae feed.
Post a Reply to this Thread
More Insect and Spider Identification Threads
-
1" black insect with wings that burrows in ground
started by klego
last post by klegoApr 17, 20255Apr 17, 2025 -
1" black insect with wings that burrows in ground
started by ivk
last post by ivkApr 23, 20252Apr 23, 2025 -
1" black insect with wings that burrows in ground
started by ivk
last post by ivkApr 23, 20252Apr 23, 2025 -
1" black insect with wings that burrows in ground
started by emblue
last post by emblueApr 24, 20253Apr 24, 2025 -
1" black insect with wings that burrows in ground
started by PitterCol
last post by PitterColApr 30, 20252Apr 30, 2025