Subject: Glossy blue-black bug
Location: SW Virginia public garden
August 7, 2017 1:38 pm
Hi, I saw these bugs recently on a very busy patch of hoary mountain mint. They moved too fast to get a good photo of their wings – they are a beautiful blue-black. Can you tell me what they are? thank you!
Signature: curious
Dear curious,
these look to us like Great Black Wasps, Sphex pensylvanicus. This BugGuide image nicely illustrates the blue reflections on the wings.