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For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
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Photo#555170
Small wasp - Rachicerus nitidus

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.

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

 
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.

 
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.

 
sweet --thanks again

Rachicerus?
Compare Rachicerus.

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.

 
Thanks, I'll keep searching
...through flies this time!