Subject: Odd fly/wasp
Location: Charles Town, WV
August 11, 2016 9:06 am
Found in garden near Charles Town WV. What is it?
My neighbor found it, she is a Bee Keeper hoping this isn’t some weird bee thing!
Signature: Becky
Dear Becky,
This is a female Picture Winged Fly, Delphinia picta, and what appears to be a stinger is actually her ovipositor, as is evident in these BugGuide images. According to BugGuide: “Breeds in decaying organic matter, such as compost” and if your neighbor has bees and is an avid gardener, we suspect there is a nearby compost pile that Picture Winged Flies might find attractive.
Wow! Thank you very much! Yes, she does have garden compost. She will definitely appreciate this info.
Becky