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Photo#121799
Blue Wasp - Aporus
Copyright © 2007 Peter Bryant

Blue Wasp - Aporus
Laguna Beach; Top of the World, Orange County, California, USA
June 26, 2007
Size: ~7mm

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Blue Wasp - Aporus Blue Wasp - Aporus Blue Wasp - Aporus Blue Wasp - Aporus
Contributed by Peter Bryant on 26 June, 2007 - 9:43am
Last updated 28 June, 2007 - 9:24pm

Oh, wow.
What a beauty! This is a pompilid (spider wasp), probably in the genus Aporus. Let's see what Nick Fensler says. Brilliant image, quite literally!
… Eric R. Eaton, 26 June, 2007 - 12:59pm

 
No doubt...
The incrassate (thickened) front femora is a good clue. I'd have to consult Wasbauer and Kimsey (1985) to see what species of Aporus this actually is, though.
… Nick Fensler, 26 June, 2007 - 6:30pm

 
Probably not...
Aporus hirsutus, the antennae look like they insert at about the level of the eyes, not below. It would be either A. concolor or A. luxus, but they have complete range overlap and they are separable by characters not usually visible in conventional photos. But narrowing it down to two possible species is usually VERY good in spider wasps.
… Nick Fensler, 27 June, 2007 - 10:21am

 
I
concur... gorgeous!
… Thomas Wilson of Armistead Gardens in Baltimore City, 26 June, 2007 - 1:11pm

 
And,
velvety.
… Thomas Wilson of Armistead Gardens in Baltimore City, 27 June, 2007 - 12:03pm

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