Subject: Hymenoptera
Geographic location of the bug: La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
Date: 05/06/2018
Time: 11:09 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: I saw this wasp-like bug a few days ago (early may) and had never seen anything like it before. My city is at a 1000 meters of altitude and we don’t have a lot of strange bugs around here. Do you know what it is and if it’s supposed to be here in Switzerland? And also, is it dangerous?
It was about 2cm long.
How you want your letter signed: Myriam
Dear Myriam,
This is NOT a Wasp or other Hymenopteran, but it is a very effective wasp mimic. This is actually a Crane Fly and we believe we have identified it as Ctenophora flaveolata thanks to images posted to BioLib and Diptera Info.
Thanks a lot for your quick answer! I’m relieved it’s not a dangerous bug!
Kind regards,
Myriam