Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Photo#1354731
Delighted to encounter Ripiphorus rex again! - Ripiphorus rex - female

Delighted to encounter Ripiphorus rex again! - Ripiphorus rex - Female
In Canyon 41, en route to Inner Pasture, Anza-Borrego State Park, San Diego County, California, USA
March 28, 2017
Three critical characters for the ID of R. rex are barely discernible here in this (unfortunately more blurry than I'd like) image:

1) the obliquely truncate hind basitarsus;
2) the finely "nub-like" serrations on the anterior edge of the mid-tibia; and
3) the hairy tip of the conical projection at the base of the foreleg, next to the coxa.

In the image the ripiphorid has her ovipositor inserted in the flower head.

Images of this individual: tag all
Delighted to encounter Ripiphorus rex again! - Ripiphorus rex - female Delighted to encounter Ripiphorus rex again! - Ripiphorus rex - female Delighted to encounter Ripiphorus rex again! - Ripiphorus rex - female Delighted to encounter Ripiphorus rex again! - Ripiphorus rex - female