dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I saw this flying around my potato plants yesterday. I have no idea if it is a wasp, hornet or something completely different. Any ideas. Forgive the poor photos as it would not stop moving so the movement is me trying to keep it in the viewfinder.

Dennis

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tinusbum Loc: east texas

i'm guessing wasp

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

It's specifically a kind of thread-wasted wasp. These are solitary wasps that make a burrow in the ground, and provision it with paralyzed prey and eggs. This species likely hunts caterpillars. There are other species that will take grasshoppers and crickets instead, and other species that go after other kinds of insects.
Completely and absolutely not aggressive to humans, btw. Come as close as you like, she will at most only fly away. It's like they don't care about anything except the next generation.
Her burrow will be in soft soil somewhere, and it's fun to watch them hunt, drag back caterpillars, and put them in.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Thank you tinusbum. It appears you would be correct.

Dennis

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Mark, once AGAIN, you come through with great information. I appreciate you do not just tell us, thread waisted wasps and let it go at that. It is the REST of the information that makes your answers useful and informational. I have hated wasps and hornets since I was stung by one, I might have been 3, when I was crawling around an old 1920's car and watched a hornet/wasp of some type crawl on my arm and sting me. At 77 years now I am pretty much over it but do recall it was very unpleasant at the time. This wasp had me going but it became obvious he wanted nothing to do with me if I left him alone. He did dart around a lot and made photos not good.

Dennis

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

I am glad to help! About those other wasps (paper wasps, Yellowjackets, hornets), those will be social wasps with a nest. When you come too close to their home, they will get alarmed and sometimes will come out and sting as you know. Or sometimes not. It depends on ... I don't know. Its not unusual for people to be surprised late in the season, when the leaves are off the trees, to discover that some big nest was tucked away where they walked close by all the time, never knowing that there was a nest there.
Those same wasps are not aggressive when foraging away from their nest. I think you can get right up on them with the camera for pictures. At least I've never seen aggression then. Now sometimes they fly at you with a scary sounding buzz before moving on. But I think that is just because they were trying to find landmarks to navigate and there is this big thing there (you) and it confuses them for a bit because they have a tiny brain. They don't know what you are. I just hold still and give them time to figure out which way is the exit.
Then there is the wasp in the house situation, probably at a window trying to get out. I will get a glass and a stiff piece of paper (like a magazine insert), and catch the wasp first with the cup, and then slide the paper under it. The tricky part is getting your hand firmly over the paper as you move away from the window. But here too they are not going to be aggressive. So just adjust your hold calmly and with fore-thought but don't have your hands between them and the window since that is where they will go if they escape. Take it outside, face the sun (that part is important), and let it go high over your head. Every time they fly out toward the sun.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Thank you for the further information Mark. I greatly appreciate it and I suspect I am most likely not alone in those feelings. I have never had the special occasion of having a hive/nest of bees, yellow jackets, hornets or wasps chase but my brother has when we were kids. I have practiced the stand still routine whenever stinging anythings are buzzing around me. I don't know if they can smell my fear but if so I must have hidden it pretty well.

As for stinging things inside the house I have to admit, and I know I will receive tons of Hate mail from some, I usually swat these things with a broom, rolled up magazine or if available I allow my friend, Raid, to flood the area with a toxic poison to rid the area of stinging critters. Fortunately that is pretty rare.

Thank you for the information.

Dennis

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Dennis, one of my specialties was mitigating "Indoor Air Quality" problems in commercial and industrial spaces. I caution folks about using any sprays in their closed environments for they become inhalants as they linger in our breathing zone.

Homes have very little, if any, introduction of fresh air other than natural infiltration. The number of fresh air changes in a home is nearly nil compared to commercial and industrial environments so pollutants linger and concentrate with others being used. What this all means is that when we spray insecticides in our homes, we too, become the bug. (this also includes air fresheners, dust sprays, hair sprays, and all other chemicals we bring into the home that may evaporate when used and off-gas).

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Thank you sippy. I do try to keep that in mind when spraying. My numbers of spraying indoors would probably average lower than once per year. I think I will be OK.

Dennis

Moondoggie Loc: Southern California

Cool photos!

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Thank you very much Moondoggie for stopping by and commenting.

Dennis

BBurns Loc: South Bay, California

Hi Mark, Spot on ID.

I have read that if provoked, their sting is one of the more memorable. Not quite up there with Velvet Ants but you you won't go back for seconds.

I had the privilege once a number of years ago, sans camera, to witness one of natures true wonders.
A couple of us were working in my very large vegetable garden when one of us called attention to a very large Orb Weaver spider that had taken up residence in one corner. Her web was about 30" in diameter.

As we were watching, there was this flash of black & orange at the middle of the web.
The spider was GONE. The web was still bouncing from the impact.

We all looked at each other with that look of, "Did you all just see what I think I saw??" We nodded.
It was so fast it was just a blur. But, we got to see it.

One of the great thing about being a nature photographer is that we get to witness nature, first hand, do things that others may never experience!