Kentski Loc: Michigan

Hi All,

I had a swarm of these on the brick of my house last night. Sprayed them and most died others escaped. At first I thought they may have been flying ants…but they are larger (about an inch) and some appear to have a stinger on the back end. Maybe some type of wasp/hornet?

Thanks for ID in advance.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Photo?

Kentski Loc: Michigan

Opps forgot to attach image😬

Sorry, Problem adding photo!!

KTJohnson Loc: Northern Michigan

Just from your description I'd say they're mayflies. This is from the net.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Spraying for something when you don’t know what it is is usually a bad idea. Usually even if you know what it is it’s a bad idea.

KindaSpikey Loc: English living in San Diego

Just a quick tip that might be helpful. If you get your Pic, (of the insect, or anything else for that matter), and bring it up in "Google lens", you'll be presented with a gallery of images to look through and should be able to identify it from there. (I've actually identified some really obscure machine parts with it, and it worked surprisingly well).
Ray.

Just Shoot Me Loc: Ithaca, NY

Agreed. They are mayflies. And you were right, you had a swarm of them. They hatch from a stream or river bed,
float to the top of the water, dry their wings and fly away for a wonderful life. (24 Hours) They mate and die.
I have been fly fishing in Connecticut and standing in the Housatonic River when a swarm hatched and thousands were flying all around me. (Fish love them). Completely harmless, no stinger, no problems with them infesting your home.

Ron

Kentski Loc: Michigan

Finally got the problem solved. Thanks to those who responded with out seeing am image.

Sorry for the delay.

Kent

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

That’s not a mayfly. Looks like a blue mud dauber. Pretty common, not aggressive. Can be beneficial because they eat black widows.

BrianFlaherty Loc: Wilseyville, CA

NEVER kill a wasp!. . .They are quite beneficial; and, when I had a B&B in the Ozarks, I encouraged them to build nests in the eaves of my house (away from an "openable" window or door). . .They the BEST mosquito eaters in the world. For over 10 years, I had 4 to 6 nests (They build new ones every year) around the outside of the house. None of my guests were ever "stung." And, none of my guests were ever bothered by mosquitos! <smile> [I also had a group of wasps who built their nest in a peach tree; and, I never had problems with rats eating the fruit. . ."My" wasps and I had a great relationship! Same as I had with spiders, doing their webs BEHIND the valences of drapes and curtains INSIDE house: I never had flies in the house, though guests were always going in and out of doors, etc.
Word to the Wise: Make friends with your Environmental Co-Habitors! They have as much Right to this planet as the Not-So-Bright Humans who seem bent on destroying the planet! <smile>. [I also have a humane way of getting rid of Carpenter Ants and/or termites when they infest the timber structure of your house! And, it does NOT involve hiring an expensive and TOXIC pest removal company! PM me, if interested!]

fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH

Well said, Brian!

Something like 90% of insects are beneficial and of those that aren't, only a very low percentage are actually dangerous to humans. I have paper wasp nests under my eaves and deck and as long as I don't do something stupid, like poke one with a stick, we get along just fine. I also have big hunter wasps that buzz up and down the outside of my house, looking for an insect meal. They come within a few inches of me but quickly realize there's nothing worthwhile so they move on.

I will admit I like dragonflies a whole lot more and they eat more mosquitoes than any other insect. When I cut the lawn, they buzz around the lawnmower and me, as the lawnmower kicks up all sort of tasty bugs for the dragonflies.

Canisdirus

Look...something I don't recognize...kill it.

Holy smokes...we all deserve what we have coming.

BrianFlaherty Loc: Wilseyville, CA

I had to "train" the wasps AWAY from the doors and windows. . .It was relatively easy, I waited until several nests were "under construction". . .And, some would be near doors or windows; and, others would NOT be so located. I would take my propane torch and "burn out" the nests where I did not want them. . .And, leave the other alone. Surprisingly, they learned VERY quickly; and, did NOT build again in the burned out locations. A friend told me they could "smell" the "death" of the burned nest. However, the next year, they did NOT even begin to build in the deadly locations; and, I was never bothered with having to torch them again! In fact, when I moved away after almost 10 years, I had about 8-9 nests around the house! All in "appropriate" locations. . .Funny thing though, the people who bought the house were jerks! And, the first thing they did was to call a pest remover!
I mourned my friends (the wasps); but, there was nothing I could do <smile>

I also had a similar arrangement with "yellow-jackets." Often, I served guests' meals outside on the patio. Of course, the yellow jackets would swoop in. . UNTIL, I set up a small table on the lawn (about 50 ft away from the patio. . and, the guests). And, on the table, I put a couple of plates of food (similar to what I was serving the guests). . .And, before I seated the guests, I put a couple plates of on the patio tables; and, stood by as the yellow-jackets arrived. I then, began swatting yellow-jackets (killing a few) until they left and went over o the "other" tables (50 ft away) and, began feeding there. Then, I would seat the guests at the patio tables. . stood by, swatter "at the ready," for a few minutes until the Y-J's got the idea. . .And, that was all it took! No more problem. . .And, if there had been I know my B&B guests would have let me know quickly! <smile> Usually, this took only a couple times in the Spring, for the Y-J's to get the idea. . .And, it would last all the way into the Fall. . .

We do NOT give Nature's "other" populations credit for having a "sense of self-preservation!" Human's are NOT the only intelligent being on the planet! <smile>

Canisdirus

Interesting... I encourage it...wildlife is on its heels everywhere...they all need a break.

Wasps have a main nest...and at some point members are expected to start a small nest nearby. Usually only one wasp will begin...if it does well...a second helper from the main nest arrives. It's all pretty amazing.
What I have seen is failure after failure after failure at my doorstop. It's HARD for them to do.

Never once have I been attacked or stung...because I know how to behave...and once they accept you...that's it...you're in...unless you do something stupid.

This year I had enough failure for my winged friends...
Now I feed them a bit of honey twice a day. The first one loved it right off...and the second one watched for a few days...then joined right in.
Now they watch me...and if they want some honey (it's for their larvae not them)...they will fly to me...not unlike my woodpeckers.

Calm the heck down everyone...and they calm down...and will light on your finger...drink some honey.
And you might learn something big from something small.

GAH1944 Loc: SW Mich.

------------they kill spiders, hey-----------------------