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


TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Photo#122628
Blue-Black Metallic Wasp in California approximately 20cm seen at pond on lily pad

Blue-Black Metallic Wasp in California approximately 20cm seen at pond on lily pad
Sunnyvale, Santa Clara County, California, USA
June 28, 2007
Size: about 20mm
This is, in my opinion, the same wasp on a different day. It frequents my backyard pond and goes to pretty much the same spots. I have never seen two of this species at the same time. Very shiny deep metallic blue, so that except for the highlights it appears almost black. In the afternoon the shadows blend with the wasp making it's outlines hard to distinguish. I've used some image enhancements to widen the tones and make the edges visible. This will reveal the shapes, though the picture will have a very grainy appearance. I will link from here to the previous pictures, and so on.

Photos taken on a previous day can be seen starting here:


I've noticed that this wasp shakes its wings very vigorously every time after it lands. It makes a loud buzz. This is consistent with the behavior of the previously sighted wasp. See the previously sighted wasp here:


The dorsum of the propodeum i
The dorsum of the propodeum is really hard to see in most wasps with their wings at rest, the only way to get a shot of it is when the wasp has its wings spread (or catching, chilling, and manually doing it). I can see a bit of it here, but not the top of it.

I found a good dorsal shot of a Chalybion propodeum here. I think the only way to get a sure ID from just the wasp is if you get a shot of it with open wings (which is difficult with these) or you could catch a specimen and chill it in the fridge and get a macro shot of it.

There are some other ways to get an ID though. If you see it carrying a host, Chalybion and Chlorion use different hosts. Chalybion uses spiders and Chlorion uses field crickets (Gryllus sp.).

Chalybion also provisions its hosts in mud nests, which are usually old Sceliphron nests. Chalybion take water from the ponds and not mud. They only rework the existing mud nest with water and give the old Sceliphron nest a rough texture. The frequent trips to the pond are making me think Chalybion, but it's not enough for an ID.

Chlorion are ground nesters and burrow rather than utilize a mud nest.

Hopefully these alternate identification methods help some! If you catch the wasp in any of these acts, it would give a definite genus ID (this does look like the same species of wasp in all of the photographs).

 
I guess Identification is not impossible...
Other than netting it, finding its nest, host, or possibly a good view of the mandibles or propodeum. I saw it again today, but it was facing away from me, wings folded. Thanks for all of the information. Stay tuned! It's anonymous days may be coming to an end!

-Mac

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