8 replies to this topic

[myrmecophile]

Hi all! I am stumped on this one. I’ve caught a spider wasp and a few other ant-look-alikes this year, but I’m really not sure about this one. I thought she was a wasp at first; however she behaves like an ant and has been attempting to remove her wings. Upon closer inspection (it isn’t apparent at first), she has elbowed antennae and it looks like there are 11 segments, however it could be 12..

 

1. Location of collection: Everett, WA. Walking on a big piece of wood.
2. Date of collection: 9/8/15 around 7:30pm. Everything was flying yesterday!
3. Habitat of collection: Central puget lowlands.
4. Length (from head to gaster): 4.5mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Black. Silver mustache.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Look at those eyes!! The antennae are short, 11 segments. Prominent ocelli. Slight constriction in gaster. See pictures and video. Very strange looking.

 

 

[Jonathan21700]

Not an ant. This is a wasp.

Edited by Jonathan21700, September 9 2015 - 12:01 PM.

[Ants4fun]

Yes, a wasp indeed.

[Crystals]

As a tip, anything with eyes that big is not a queen ant.

[William. T]

Wasp. I know how you feel. I made the same mistake when I started.

[myrmecophile]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I thought there was something odd about her.

[klawfran3]

That thing is beautiful! I totally want that in my pinned collection . It's some kind of wasp in the subfamily Crabroninae. Those are the square headed wasps, and it's obvious why they call them that.

 

I actually caught one of the square heads bothering a pogonomyrmex nest a few days ago. It almost seemed as if it was preying on the ants. They're pretty cool to look at. Almost look like a bulldog.

Edited by klawfran3, September 9 2015 - 8:15 PM.

[James C. Trager]

Family Crabronidae. Looks like one of the little ones that hunt aphids, possibly genus Passaloecus.

[Works4TheGood]

You should keep it anyway!