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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 » Thread-waisted Wasps (Sphecidae) » Sphecinae » Sphecini » Sphex » Great Black Digger Wasp (Sphex pensylvanicus)
Photo#1108565
large black wasp hunting milkweed flower heads - Sphex pensylvanicus
Copyright © 2015 KCWildlife

large black wasp hunting milkweed flower heads - Sphex pensylvanicus
Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri, USA
July 24, 2015
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Contributed by KCWildlife on 24 July, 2015 - 2:53pm
Last updated 24 July, 2015 - 9:18pm

Moved
Moved from Thread-waisted Wasps.
… John S. Ascher, 24 July, 2015 - 9:18pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Ken Wolgemuth, 24 July, 2015 - 5:04pm login or register to post comments

Male - Blue Mud Wasp
KCWildlife, your wasp looks like a Male Blue Mud Wasp, Chalybion californicum. Here is one from your state:


Good Luck!
… Bob Biagi, 24 July, 2015 - 4:42pm login or register to post comments

 
Hmm...
I was thinking Sphex pensylvanicus:

… Ken Wolgemuth, 24 July, 2015 - 5:03pm login or register to post comments

 
Yes, More Black Than Blue!
Ken, that is because you are thinking clearer than me, haha! Yes, I think that you are correct and he has more of a dull black coloration to the head and body. The eyes may be a little bigger and the face is more hairy. Good call.

Either way, this is a male wasp!
… Bob Biagi, 24 July, 2015 - 5:33pm login or register to post comments

 
Hmmm, both on Swamp Milkweed
Hmmm, both on Swamp Milkweed too.
… KCWildlife, 24 July, 2015 - 5:11pm login or register to post comments

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