Subject:  Wasp/hornet identification
Geographic location of the bug:  Tacoma, Washington
Date: 07/31/2021
Time: 03:20 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  This little guy had been flying around my yard, he’s about an inch long, at least twice the length of the honey bees, he’s pictured on oregano flowers that may help with size. He is long and thin, he seems to be alone.
How you want your letter signed:  Christine Payne

Great Golden Digger Wasp

Dear Christine,
This is a Great Golden Digger Wasp, a solitary wasp that preys upon Katydids to feed its brood.  Great Golden Digger Wasps are found throughout the continental United States and they are not aggressive.

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Subject:  Black Flying Insect
Geographic location of the bug:  Upstate New York
Date: 07/20/2021
Time: 06:56 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Helli, We have these insects around our deck for the first time this year. We have lived here for 30+ years. Are they wasps, hornets or something else? Thank you!
How you want your letter signed:  Susan

Common Blue Mud-Dauber Wasps

Dear Susan,
We believe these are Common Blue Mud-Dauber Wasps,Chalybion californicum, which are pictured on BugGuide.  According to BugGuide:  “A large, active, blue-black wasp with irridescent blue wings. Frequents flowers for nectar and buildings for nest sites.” and “Females construct mud nests in sheltered areas, often under the eaves of buildings, and provision them with spiders.”  We suspect they are searching for mud near your deck for nest building.

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Subject:  Orange Wasp
Geographic location of the bug:  Massachusetts
Date: 07/11/2021
Time: 02:14 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Showing up on my milkweed plants. Seems very aggressive against other bees/wasps.
How you want your letter signed:  Vinny

Great Golden Digger Wasp

Dear Vinny,
This is a Great Golden Digger Wasp and Daniel has been posting images of this species from his Los Angeles garden last month where they were nectaring from blooming onions.  The Great Golden Digger Wasp is a solitary wasp and they are not generally aggressive and they do not defend their nests.  The female feeds on nectar and milkweed is a marvelous nectar producing plant.  The female also hunts Katydids which she stings and paralyzes and then drags back to her nest where she lays an egg that will hatch into a helpless larva that will eat the paralyzed Katydid alive.  Great Golden Digger Wasps rarely sting humans, but the sting is likely quite painful.  She will only sting if threatened.  She would much rather save her venom for paralyzing Katydids than warding off predators, so she has aposomatic warning coloration (orange and black) and she moves in a jerky and attention getting manner to warn would be predators to avoid trying to eat or lest they encounter a painful sting to the mouth.

Thank you Daniel. This information will ease our minds in regards to potential bites as they are appearing in large numbers.

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Subject:  What’s this wasp
Geographic location of the bug:  Kingston Ontario Canada
Date: 07/06/2021
Time: 08:42 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Is this a wasp that is helpful?
How you want your letter signed:  Hope Alberry

Yellow Legged Mud Dauber

Dear Hope,
This is a Yellow Legged Mud Dauber or Black and Yellow Mud Dauber, Sceliphron caementarium, which is pictured on BugGuide.  This is a solitary wasp and solitary wasps rarely pose a stinging threat.  Social Wasps will often sting to protect the nest, but solitary wasps do not protect the nest.  The Yellow Legged Mud Dauber builds a nest from mud and is often seen near mud puddles.  According to BugGuide:  “nest is provisioned withNests are provisioned with spiders”.

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