Bee Killer eats European Paper Wasp

We saw this bug eating a wasp. We’ve never seen one before. What is it?
August 15, 2009
We saw this bug eating a wasp. We’ve never seen one before. What is it?
• Your letter to the bugman    Please help us identify this ugly unusual furry bug preying on a wasp. We live in the Los Angeles area and this was in our back yard.
Sincerely, Daniel and Jill
Los Angeles, CA

Bee Killer eats Golden Paper Wasp

Dear Daniel and Jill,
The predator is a Robber Fly known as a Bee Killer, Mallophora fautrix, and the prey is a Golden Paper Wasp, Polistes aurifer.

Correction
August 15, 2009
The prey here is the European Paper Wasp, Polistes dominulus.
bugbrainz

Thanks for the correction. According to BugGuide:  “no other species of Vespidae has mostly orange antennae.”

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