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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 » Grass-carrying Wasps (Isodontia) » Mexican Grass-carrying Wasp (Isodontia mexicana)
Photo#6882
Sphex pennsylvanica? - Isodontia mexicana
Copyright © 2004 Rob Broekhuis

Sphex pennsylvanica? - Isodontia mexicana
Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, USA
August 15, 2004
Since the great black wasp was invoked in a recent ID request, which is now veering toward blue mud dauber, I figured I'd post what I believe (from consulting elsewhere) is sphex pennsylvanica. What are the identifying characteristics of this vs. the mud dauber? Certainly, this one doesn't have the metallic blue sheen on its hindquarters.
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Contributed by Rob Broekhuis on 8 September, 2004 - 7:51pm
Last updated 11 August, 2019 - 7:12pm

Moved
Moved from Isodontia apicalis.
… Matthias Buck, 11 August, 2019 - 7:12pm login or register to post comments

Grass-carrier wasp
Pretty certain this is a "grass-carrier" wasp, Isodontia apicalis. The silver face and pale pubescence on the thorax is pretty distinctive. Same family and subfamily as Sphex, so confusion is normal:-) Differences are so subtle among the sphecids in general that it just takes years of practice to differentiate.
… Eric R. Eaton, 9 September, 2004 - 11:28am login or register to post comments

 
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… John S. Ascher, 15 March, 2008 - 10:31am login or register to post comments

 
Thanks again
I guess I'll have to hunt for an actual great black wasp now.
… Rob Broekhuis, 9 September, 2004 - 8:59pm login or register to post comments

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