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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Spider Wasps, Velvet Ants and allies (Pompiloidea) » Velvet Ants (Mutillidae) » Sphaeropthalminae » Nocturnal Velvet Ants (Sphaeropthalmini) » Sphaeropthalma » Sphaeropthalma edwardsii
Photo#1483807
wasp? - Sphaeropthalma edwardsii
Copyright © 2018 Celise Sharpe

wasp? - Sphaeropthalma edwardsii
Between Yreka and Mt. Shasta in my garden, Siskiyou County, California, USA
September 9, 2017
Although it is marked like the sawflies in my garden it is much larger and hairy. I had forgotten about the picture until I began reviewing this years' photos, so I don't remember the behavior. I have not seen anything quite like her in the several years I have been observing bees and wasps in my garden. I am most curious, especially with all the hair.

Images of this individual: tag all
wasp? - Sphaeropthalma edwardsii wasp? - Sphaeropthalma edwardsii wasp? - Sphaeropthalma edwardsii
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Contributed by Celise Sharpe on 11 January, 2018 - 7:15pm
Last updated 16 January, 2018 - 3:29pm

Moved
Moved from Dasymutilla.
… john and jane balaban, 16 January, 2018 - 3:29pm login or register to post comments

Tough one!
This is actually Sphaeropthalma edwardsii. In Pacific Dasymutilla, the body cuticle and leg setae are usually black. This is a strange nocturnal/diurnal species of Sphaeropthalma. It can be separated from the very few other bright red Sphaeropthalma to have blackish wings. So cool to see them in the daylight!
… KevinWilliams, 16 January, 2018 - 1:14pm login or register to post comments

 
I stand corrected, very cool.
I stand corrected, very cool.
… Gordon C. Snelling, 16 January, 2018 - 2:50pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Velvet Ants.
… Ken Wolgemuth, 11 January, 2018 - 7:58pm login or register to post comments

Pretty little male Dasymutill
Pretty little male Dasymutilla.
… Gordon C. Snelling, 11 January, 2018 - 7:52pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks everyone. I wouldn't h
Thanks everyone. I wouldn't have guessed velvet ant, but we do seem to have many different species of them in this dry climate. He is really a beautiful creature!
… Celise Sharpe, 11 January, 2018 - 8:11pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Ken Wolgemuth, 11 January, 2018 - 7:31pm login or register to post comments

Looks to be
some kind of Mutillid

One of the specialists should be able to get you to genus or species
… john and jane balaban, 11 January, 2018 - 7:25pm login or register to post comments

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