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Warwood

I have noticed a predatory insect at least the length of a wasp and the girth of a bee. The neck and head anatomy is that of a bee, i.e. large eyes, antenna that of a bee. The thorax area is that of like a mud wasp with white tipped inner wings, black outer wings, the abdomen more bee-like and lined or segmented but not yellow-black but more gray-black. It moves much faster than a wasp, bee or SVB. It lites on or near vegetation occasionally, when I could get a good glimpse of it. I hadn't noticed this wonderful insect until about Aug. this year, not before this year. It has literally sucked the life and insides out of the SVB moth as I have found two of their carcasses on top of leaves. I saw it on top of one and it was on a beetle as well leaving the same effect. There have been about a dozen mostly around my pumpkin patch. This is obviously a predatory (in a good way) insect. I will research this apparently wonderful predator, but in the meantime are there any insect folks or anyone having knowledge of what this is. I may even backtrack to see if I may have sprayed anything, or look into what they like culturally to attract this insect etc. I have heard about predatory attractants for SVBs and traps, but will definitely investigate this natural wonder. P.S. IT IS NOT THE MALE SVB MOTH or squash bee, I know what they look like.
Thanks ahead. Don

9/1/2008 8:24:14 AM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

See my post below yours under General Discussion.

9/1/2008 11:08:14 AM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

I saw a predatory black wasp attack a spider when i was talking to a client. It was pretty cool to see the wasp win.

9/9/2008 9:18:01 AM