Spider Wasp from Idaho

Subject:  Black wasp with orange wings Geographic location of the bug:  In Genesee id Date: 10/13/2018 Time: 09:21 PM EDT Your letter to the bugman:  Hey, so I have never seen one of these before… Google said it is a tarantula wasp??? Just curious what it is… How you want your letter signed:  Shara cook … Read more

Spider Wasp: Tachypompilus ferrugineus

Subject: Red body w/black stripes, blue wings Location: Northeast Ohio (Fairport Harbor) August 13, 2017 2:39 pm I searched an insect identification website and could not find anything that matched this. It’s similar, but different enough from a flying carpenter ant or digger wasp. This insect was found in my basement, in an empty laundry … Read more

Spider Wasp from Chile

Subject: Tarantula hawk? Location: Rauco, Maule, Chile April 6, 2017 6:16 pm I spotted this beautiful looking insect in my garden in central Chile today, I’ve looked about online and it seems to look like a Tarantula hawk! wow. The only other pictures that look the same, with the metallic blue colour and orange anteni, … Read more

Spider Wasp

Subject: Blue Wing Bug Location: Hong Kong January 19, 2017 2:41 am Would you please help to identify this bug? It’s around 30-40mm long, blue wings, orange head and legs, dark blue body. Thanks a lot! Signature: Alex L Hi Alex, This is a Spider Wasp in the family Pompillidae.  We will attempt a species … Read more

Spider Wasp from Panama

Subject: Beautiful Wasp Location: Chiriqui, panama November 12, 2016 8:27 pm Hi Bugman, I saw this wasp at a gas station in Panama in October. A tour guide said it was a spider hawk but the internet pictures of those show they have orange wings. The closest thing I found to this is the great … Read more

Spider Wasp

Subject: Tarantula Hawk Long Beach Location: Long Beach CA April 20, 2016 2:49 pm Hi, I first saw one of these beauties scouring my yard in the early mornings and late afternoons 3 years ago. I could not find anyone who’d seen one here and my tentative identification of Tarantula Hawk seemed insane. But they … Read more