Long, thin, black iridescent blue...Wasp?

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
terryr Bureau County, IL(Zone 5a) Jul 24, 2007

I've been noticing a lot of what look to be wasp around my Asclepias verticillata, Asclepias tuberosa and Clematis virginiana. Does anyone know what they are? Long, thin and almost iridescent blue if the sun hits them just right.

Thanks much,

Terry

Thumbnail by terryr
Post #3771449
Quote
Mobi Denver, CO(Zone 6a) Jul 24, 2007

It could be a mud dauber. I don't know anything about wasps but I saw a similar one in my garden the other day. They have the blue wings.

Look at the pictures of the mud dauber

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.dereila.ca/whispers/MudDauber.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.dereila.ca/whispers/one.html&h=1174&w=1573&sz=568&hl=en&start=7&um=1&tbnid=-4pwgCS1wpNuLM:&tbnh=112&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmud%2Bdauber%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

Post #3772091
Quote
claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Jul 24, 2007

I see 'em on Milkweeds all the time. It's a Black Wasp, or 'Great Black Wasp', Sphex pensylvanica

See how many of these pics are on Asclepias/ Milkweeds. (More pics show up when you click on the species name) -

http://bugguide.net/node/view/5530

This message was edited Jul 24, 2007 1:35 AM

Post #3772128
Quote
terryr Bureau County, IL(Zone 5a) Jul 24, 2007

Thanks Mobi, definitely not a mud dauber.

claypa, it does look like the Sphex pensylvanica. Now what are they doing? Do they harm any eggs of Monarchs?

Post #3773117
Quote
claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Jul 24, 2007

They're definitely not garden pests. They kill katydids and grasshoppers, and collect the pollen and nectar from flowers, pollinating them as they go.

Post #3773140
Quote
terryr Bureau County, IL(Zone 5a) Jul 24, 2007

Oh good! Thanks so much claypa!

Post #3774404
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Garden Pests and Diseases Threads

Go to all Garden Pests and Diseases threads
BACK TO TOP