small, big-headed wasp

Moved

Moved from Tachytes.

Sorry about this move, but I would prefer an expert opinion and I may have been wrong about this one.

… Bob Biagi, 22 February, 2017 - 4:58am

Thank you Bob!

Congratulations on becoming a BG Contributing Editor! I am guessing you are a wasp specialist. Cool!

… Salvador Vitanza, 22 February, 2017 - 7:18am

Moved

Moved from Gastrosericina.

… Salvador Vitanza, 31 January, 2016 - 1:00pm

Female - Tachytes sp. (red and red, with clear wings)

I think that the combination of features, the all-red abdomen and the all-red legs is unique to females of Tachytes desertus. We may need more views to be sure, but the truncated abdomen and thick, spiny legs are qualities of the genus.
She seems to be a small species. Can you confirm that, by comparing her with the flower sizes? Thanks

… Bob Biagi, 31 January, 2016 - 9:35am

Thank you Bob!

These leaves and flowers are really tiny, but I do not see the plants at this moment and guessing bug size from a photo has been challenging for me. The second photo in this series shows a beetle that might shed some light as to size. Also, the photos that I took of Perdita show, I believe, the same plant species:

I hope to find these Tachytes wasps again and do a better job photographing and measuring them.

… Salvador Vitanza, 31 January, 2016 - 10:30am

Yes, we want to see some teeth!

The color of the base of the mandibles and the hairs on the ventral side of the hind femur, are two very important features for keying in that genus.
OK, you can update the size later on. For now you should check the "adult" and "female" boxes, on both of your red-belly Sand-loving Wasps. Then move them to genus level, until we can figure out the look-alike species peculiarities.
I'm counting 6 abdominal segments on both of them and according to the key, only the females of that genus have the all-red abdomens.
Always remember that with these small-size wasps, there are the other look-alikes to consider, in Tachysphex and also the Larra bicolor. (below)

… Bob Biagi, 31 January, 2016 - 12:43pm

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… John S. Ascher, 31 July, 2015 - 7:43am

Larra bicolor?

but definitely don't take my word for it

… Steve Scholnick, 31 July, 2015 - 12:14am