Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Photo#1113674
Mud Dauber Wasp? - Sphex pensylvanicus - female

Mud Dauber Wasp? - Sphex pensylvanicus - Female
29th Avenue Prairie, Marion, Linn County, Iowa, USA
July 22, 2015
Size: 3.5 cm
This sp. seems to be the most attracted to milkweed.

Moved

Female!
Aaron, there is a large cell, in the middle of the wing, that resembles a slightly stretched out diamond. I believe that is the first dicoidal cell. This is a very distinctive shape and reminds me of the genus Sphex. After seeing that there is only one choice, your wasp is most likely a female Great Black Wasp, Sphex pensylvanicus. Here is one from your state that shows the same wing cell:
NOTE: This large cell shape is also present on the wings of wasps in the genus Isodontia. That is a slightly smaller sized group of related wasps.

Please add the size information! Thanks

 
Thanks
Appreciate the ID and info!

 
Size!
Please note that I could be wrong and most people's guesses are going to be more accurate when you provide them with a proper size estimate. Do you own a scaled ruler or a tape measure? This should always be an important data point for every bug that you identify.

 
Size added
Just added the size. I have an app on my smartphone which is a metric or U.S ruler. It comes in handy because you can put a tick mark on the ruler to show the exact measurement.

 
Female - Bugphone
10 Flagellomeres and 6 abdominal segments = ♀

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

 
Thanks.
Thanks.

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.