Subject: what is this big insect?
Location: Comox VAlley, Vancouver Island
July 29, 2015 11:31 pm
Dear bugman, this insect came buzzed by us this evening, July 29, 2015. It is the biggest I have seen yet in Southern Coastal BC. We live on the East Coast of Vancouver Island, in the Comox Valley. Our house is by a creek in a semi-forested, green belt area which gives us great opportunity for observation of our flora and fauna. This insect flew by slowly, at first I thought it was a juvenile hummingbird or huge moth. It made no sound other than with its wings when it was flying and did not move very fast. In fact it was still most of the time. I took many pictures, most of them not very sharp. I picked the best ones and hope you can help me figure out what it is that was visiting us. Is it a cicada? a cicada eater? It has stripes on its abdomen, like a wasp. It has those short club-like antennae that remind me of a fly. It has a very small head relative to its body, and is antennae and the outer portions of its legs are yellow.
Signature: Monika on Morrison Creek
Dear Monika,
This Elm Sawfly is a non-stinging member of the insect order that includes Wasps and Bees. The larvae of the Elm Sawfly are frequently confused for caterpillars.
