Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
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
Upcoming Events

Registration is open for the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Apoidea sans Anthophila – Apoid Wasps » Square-headed Wasps, Sand Wasps, and Allies (Crabronidae) » Bembicinae » Sand Wasps (Bembicini) » Spheciina » Cicada-killer Wasps (Sphecius) » Eastern Cicada-killer Wasp (Sphecius speciosus)
Photo#1345013
Is this a cicada killer? - Sphecius speciosus - female
Copyright © 2017 Kala King

Is this a cicada killer? - Sphecius speciosus - Female
Garland, Dallas County, Texas, USA
August 18, 2016
I believe this is my first photo of a cicada killer. I followed it around and thought it would never land and only got the one shot when it did land briefly, yet partially hidden by the concrete edge. Not the shot I wanted but hopefully good enough for an id. No clue on gender.
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Kala King on 7 March, 2017 - 10:03pm
Last updated 8 March, 2017 - 5:12am

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… John S. Ascher, 8 March, 2017 - 5:03am login or register to post comments

Female
6 abdominal segments = ♀
… Bob Biagi, 7 March, 2017 - 10:27pm login or register to post comments

 
Does that go for all wasps?
I was not sure you could see this one well enough to count segments. Anyway, just for future reference, all wasps, count the abdominal segments? Even thread-waisted?
… Kala King, 7 March, 2017 - 10:35pm login or register to post comments

 
No
This applies to most of the superfamilies in Aculeata, but a few are much different. Sometimes, it is often better to count the antennae segments or to check the other body parts, behaviors, etc.
… Bob Biagi, 7 March, 2017 - 10:42pm login or register to post comments

 
Duly noted
Thank you for your patience
… Kala King, 7 March, 2017 - 10:53pm login or register to post comments

Yes
Looks like Sphecius speciosus:

… Ken Wolgemuth, 7 March, 2017 - 10:07pm login or register to post comments

 
Thank you
Until I can get a better photo, I'll keep this one for documentation. However, I realize it is poor quality, y'all are free to use or frass.
… Kala King, 7 March, 2017 - 10:36pm login or register to post comments

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

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact