The THING - what is it, please? These are really bad quality photos, but I would really like your help ID'ing this THING. As many times as I snapped, I was never able to get a decent...

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

These are really bad quality photos, but I would really like your help ID'ing this THING. As many times as I snapped, I was never able to get a decent shot, especially of her face - she was scurrying around and was not still for even an instant. I did try to post the photos that most clearly show markings. And, if you know - what was her purpose?

When I first glimpsed her, I thought dragonfly. But, no - maybe a damselfly. Now I think it is some unsavory character with which I want nothing to do!

Sad as they are, I present:

She picked up this mothy looking thing which was bigger than she and hauled it over to a hole dug in the soil.

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She deposited the carcass in the hole, scratched in some dirt, pulled in other carcasses waiting beside the hole putting dirt over each one. Creating a cache? Laying in a first meal for future hatchlings from eggs laid in the hole?

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After burying all the dead bodies, she completely filled in the hole.

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She then moved about two feet away and began to dig another hole.

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xxredbeardxx Loc: San Clemente CA.

STVest wrote:

These are really bad quality photos, but I would really like your help ID'ing this THING.

When I first glimpsed her, I thought dragonfly. But, no - maybe a damselfly. Now I think it is some unsavory character with which I want nothing to do!

Sad as they are, I present:

wow. very interesting.
Yes, I'm guessing some kind of hornet with food
for her young.

I'll be watching to see if anyone knows.
Thanks for sharing.

Dixiegirl Loc: Alabama gulf coast

Oh mercy! I don't know, Sherry. I think it's a strange hybrid, a cross between an ant and a wasp. :-D Whatever it is, I think I'd have an attack if one happened to get on me.

STVest wrote:

These are really bad quality photos, but I would r... (show quote)

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

xxredbeardxx wrote:

wow. very interesting.
Yes, I'm guessing some kind of hornet with food
for her young.

I'll be watching to see if anyone knows.
Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for looking and commenting, Mark. If she is making meals out of less desirable creatures, that's a good thing. Otherwise, I may need to do some excavating and burning!

Dixiegirl Loc: Alabama gulf coast

Just found it. No cause for alarm. It's the Common Thread-waisted Wasp. Beneficial critter.

Dixiegirl wrote:

Oh mercy! I don't know, Sherry. I think it's a strange hybrid, a cross between an ant and a wasp. :-D Whatever it is, I think I'd have an attack if one happened to get on me.

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Dixiegirl wrote:

Oh mercy! I don't know, Sherry. I think it's a strange hybrid, a cross between an ant and a wasp. :-D Whatever it is, I think I'd have an attack if one happened to get on me.

Yucky, right? I googled wasps and could find none that resembled this thing. I googled different permutations of: black; orange band; clubtail; insect; red band. Could find nothing that even hinted of this. So, I've brought it to the hogs. Is it a keeper or do I reach for the pesticide?

xxredbeardxx Loc: San Clemente CA.

STVest wrote:

Thanks for looking and commenting, Mark. If she is making meals out of less desirable creatures, that's a good thing. Otherwise, I may need to do some excavating and burning!

I'm guessing that little lady carries quite a sting.

Be careful whatever you do. She just may be
covering up you too. Haa.

Scary looking.

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Dixiegirl wrote:

Just found it. No cause for alarm. It's the Common Thread-waisted Wasp. Beneficial critter.

Wow, you're fast! How'd you do that? Thanks much. Setting down can of Raid, now.

Dixiegirl Loc: Alabama gulf coast

Here ya go.

http://www4.uwm.edu/fieldstation/naturalhistory/bugoftheweek/thread-waisted-wasp.cfm

STVest wrote:

Yucky, right? I googled wasps and could find none that resembled this thing. I googled different permutations of: black; orange band; clubtail; insect; red band. Could find nothing that even hinted of this. So, I've brought it to the hogs. Is it a keeper or do I reach for the pesticide?

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

xxredbeardxx wrote:

I'm guessing that little lady carries quite a sting.

Be careful whatever you do. She just may be
covering up you too. Haa.

Scary looking.

:lol: :lol: :lol:
She'd better get busy - it's gonna take a hole a lot bigger that the one I saw!

Donna says she's a friend. She may be a friend, but she sure ain't pretty. I'm gonna google "Common Thread-waisted Wasp" now.

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Dixiegirl wrote:

Here ya go.

http://www4.uwm.edu/fieldstation/naturalhistory/bugoftheweek/thread-waisted-wasp.cfm

And you have ESP, too.

Dixiegirl Loc: Alabama gulf coast

LOL

STVest wrote:

And you have ESP, too.

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Dixiegirl wrote:

LOL

I read the link. Very interesting (and yucky) info. This must be a #2 on the link. Thanks, Donna!

xxredbeardxx Loc: San Clemente CA.

STVest wrote:

:lol: :lol: :lol:
She'd better get busy - it's gonna take a hole a lot bigger that the one I saw!

Donna says she's a friend. She may be a friend, but she sure ain't pretty. I'm gonna google "Common Thread-waisted Wasp" now.

Haahaahaa. well I'm glad you will be ok.
I hope they're not noisy neighbors, and that
she doesn't have a lot of friends.

The neighborhood hole digging parties could be rather disturbing.

roxiemarty Loc: Florida

Way to go Dixiegirl! Very interesting story and critter. Thanks for sharing, STVest! Now slowly back away with that poison!