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Wasps and HornetsHelp! What’s this bug?
Dear Bugman,
We’ve had these flying insects in our backyard for almost a month now. The adults are about 1 inch long with the wings having some bright blue tint. I live in Plano, TX. This winter is pretty warm, and these insects just popped out all of a sudden. After browsing through your web site, I think it’s one of the following. 1. Cricket Hunter, 2. Black Wasp. 3. Solitary Wasp. Could you help me identify them? They don’t seem to be aggressive. However, they live in a burrow inside our flower bed which is closed to the foundation of our house. Should I be concerned? I’m also worried that my kids are playing in the backyard with many of these little critters flying around them.
Thanks for your help!
Bin
Hi Bin,
We agree with your first guess, that this is a Cricket Hunter. We will see if Eric Eaton can give us a species name on it. These are not agressive wasps. Eric responded: ” The cricket-hunting wasp is probably Liris sp., perhaps, Larra. Very difficult to tell, even under a microscope! If you see one dragging a cricket, then its Liris. If you see one battling a mole cricket, then it is Larra. Best I can do.”
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