I have a container garden on my patio. I just went out to check on my plants and saw a long, black wasp-like insect fly into one of my pots carrying some sort of fat white worm/larvae under it and burrowing into the soil. I promptly got my pyrethrin-based organic insecticide and sprayed the soil and what appeared to be the burrowing hole. I'm trying to figure out what this insect is, but unfortunately I don't have a picture to share. I have seen it before a couple of times over the last few years and I'm worried because my Oriental Lily container was decimated last year by (white) grubs that were eating away at the bulbs and roots around this same time of year. Please help!
I'm especially worried because I don't want an infestation of bugs in my apartment once I bring in my plants for the winter. If what I saw was an insect putting larvae into my soil, I am paranoid about this.
Wasp carrying white worm
The wasp likely was carrying a caterpillar (or grub) that it had paralyzed and was going to place it in its burrow as food for its developing young. Wasps like these are your friends.
Oh darn, I feel bad for spraying the pot with pesticide now, but I had no choice; I don't want the wasp's offspring emerging once I bring the pots indoors for the winter.
This message was edited Sep 26, 2013 11:23 PM
The wasp's offspring (another wasp) would be another ally in your fight against plant-destroying insects. It would be no threat to you or anything in your house...
I've seen this in the past and find it very fascinating how a lone wasp digs a hole, paralyzes its victim (I've seen them use spiders as prey as well), and drag their victim a few feet to the burial chamber. They may drag the victim several inches and fly back to the hole and then back to the victim. I suppose this is to get their bearings. Once the victim is in the hole the wasp will use its hind legs burying the hole so well that it undetectable. Nature is so amazing.
Flap, I agree. However, other people in my household will go bonkers if the offspring emerged indoors. Plus, even if there wasn't anti-bug dissent, It would be unfair to the wasp offspring to let them roam free indoors during the winter.
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