CLOSED: What kind?...

Of hornet?? They were about 2-3" long.

Not hornets, but wasps. Thread-waisted Wasps, family Sphecidae:

http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/b/Hymenoptera/Sphecidae/none/none/genus/0/

Ammophila and Podalonia are a couple possible genera/genuses, and there are probably more.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/57717

I should say that the bug guide link probably isn't your wasp, but I thought it was neat that it's gnawing on a twig like yours.

btw, fly girl, if you happen to read this one, have a look at that last link, that wasp is kind of fuzzy - a little bit anyway

claypa, Thanks! Geeze, Your great at this, You always seem to know what every bug is! (Good thing!)

Well I sure don't know which wasp yours is... narrowing down to the Family level doesn't count as an ID! ha.
But thanks, I enjoy it.
Mike
I don't know what this is, either:

This message was edited Sep 24, 2007 1:51 AM

claypa, Isn't it a Thread-waisted Digger Wasp (Ammophila nigricans) ??
That is one wierd looking bug you got in your photo there!!! lol!!

I had a nice long answer written and realized it was wrong! But I'm pretty sure it's not the A. nigricans because they have no white/silver spots on the thorax like your wasp. Your picture is excellent, so I'm sure somebody somewhere can ID it, but not me. There are hundreds of these Sphecid wasps!

Meanwhile, here's a link to some pictures from just one of the sites that got me to throw in the towel:

http://cedarcreek.umn.edu/insects/album/025062014ap.html

Ammophila procera is a good bet, but there are too many similar wasps for me to say.
I love these wasps, they do some amazing things.

claypa, yours looks like a Short-winged Meadow Katydid, Conocephalus brevipennis but there may be others similar, they do vary with age.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/33646/bgimage

Probably a male.

http://buzz.ifas.ufl.edu/234a.htm

More here

http://www.musicofnature.com/songsofinsects/iframes/meadowkatydids/meadowkatydids.html

Sorry I can't help either with the wasp IRIS, they are a confusing lot.

Iris, yours is a very interesting wasp ... I had a fun time trying to track it down. I agree with Claypa on the Family. In my untrained opinion, I would guess genus Ammophila. Reasonings:
- Podalonia appears more hairy, in bugguide photos, but I couldn’t find an “official” statement that they are
- per Buggide, the peiole (slender, stalklike part, as that connecting the thorax and abdomen in certain insects) is one segment in the Palodnia - yours appears to be two.
- per bugguide, the abdomen is more robust in the Podalonia, yours appears slender
This is link is for Michigan, but the photos of the Podalonia & Ammophila were helpful too: http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/sphecidwasps/Index.html#anchor1814715

No definites on the species, but, like Claypa, I would guess procera. Reasonings:
- found in NC May through October, so likely similar range for SC
- yours have the strong procera thoracic markings (refer: http://bugguide.net/node/view/124285/bgimage)
- the nigricans don’t have the white thoracic markings that yours do, although your wasp wings are very dark
- the positioning could be the "sleeping behavior" referred to here: http://bugguide.net/node/view/2940/bgimage)
- or, another reason for the positioning could be: Because their prey are arboreal, the females are often found searching among the branches (especially oaks) several meters above the ground. Males can also be found among the branches where they may either be searching for mates or imbibing honeydew

Sorry to ramble, but I was making notes as I was trying to solve your puzzle, so am sharing them.


Your photo is very nice! I would think it could be added to the Ammophila generic species bugfile entry: http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/644/

claypa, Thanks for trying so hard! I didn't realize there were Soo many different kinds.
wallaby1, Thats ok, It 'is' a confusing lot.
linda-nc, Thanks so much for all the info and links ( and work)! I do believe it was there sleeping positioning as they stayed in that position all the time i was there and even as I left that area.
( I did add it to the bug file photos)
Thanks again everyone!