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Rusty Spider Wasp (Tachypompilus ferrugineus)
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Tachypompilus ferrugineus ferrugineus
Photo#1291978
Copyright © 2016
Dan Davison
Small Red Wasp -
Tachypompilus ferrugineus
Bullitt County, Kentucky, USA
September 13, 2016
Small red wasp nectaring on white wingstem. Half the size of many of the other wasps. Didn't stay around long either - only one shot...
Contributed by
Dan Davison
on 13 September, 2016 - 9:03pm
Last updated 13 September, 2016 - 11:05pm
Moved
Moved from
ID Request
.
…
John S. Ascher
, 13 September, 2016 - 11:05pm
My first thought was Tachypompilus ferrugineus
I don't think they'd generally be described as "small" though.
…
Ken Wolgemuth
, 13 September, 2016 - 9:21pm
Smaller wasp
Possibly a male which is usually "smaller". Guessing about 12mm or so which is much smaller than the red paper wasps I see. The male as described in your thumbnail also has the colorful markings.
Do the males hunt spiders as well?
…
Dan Davison
, 13 September, 2016 - 10:45pm
Dr. Ascher has settled the ID question :)
With regard to your other question... Females hunt spiders to provision their nests and feed their young. Males don't make nests and thus don't hunt spiders.
…
Ken Wolgemuth
, 14 September, 2016 - 4:57am