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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Orthorrhapha » Xylophagidae » Rachicerus » Rachicerus nitidus
Photo#555170
Small wasp - Rachicerus nitidus
Copyright © 2011 Stone Lark

Small wasp - Rachicerus nitidus
Crystal Lake, McHenry County, Illinois, USA
July 10, 2011
Size: 1cm
Might have been searching for prey, maybe egg-laying, on a rotting log.
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Contributed by Stone Lark on 31 July, 2011 - 12:33pm
Last updated 31 July, 2011 - 1:55pm

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… John F. Carr, 31 July, 2011 - 1:55pm login or register to post comments

 
For what it's worth
The creature seemed to be fascinated with this particular rotten log and a spot near the slime mould fungus, Tubifera ferruginosa. It stayed with the log even after I nudged it over to the sunlight for a better shot. I'm curious what it was attracted to.
… Stone Lark, 31 July, 2011 - 2:23pm login or register to post comments

 
Laying eggs
It was probably laying eggs in the log, which must be just the right consistency or have just the right sort of fungus or slime for the larvae to eat.
… John F. Carr, 31 July, 2011 - 2:26pm login or register to post comments

 
sweet --thanks again
… v belov, 31 July, 2011 - 2:09pm login or register to post comments

Rachicerus?
Compare Rachicerus.
… John F. Carr, 31 July, 2011 - 1:43pm login or register to post comments

Halteres, eyes, and moutparts say fly, not wasp.
Couldn't begin to tell you what kind, though. I'm sure someone else will know what it is.
… Ken Wolgemuth, 31 July, 2011 - 12:59pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks, I'll keep searching
...through flies this time!
… Stone Lark, 31 July, 2011 - 1:19pm login or register to post comments

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