I am from Iowa, I found it on top of a building while doing some roofing repairs. I have only seen one other like it which was flying around my house one day but I dont remeber its tail being so long. Here is the link to the photo
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h81/templar_knight_moore/20061034.jpg
2006-10-22 15:07:40 · 8 answers · asked by templar_knight_moore 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
I think it's a member of the wasp family Pelecinidae. It's a female (males have much shorter abdomen but are rare).
Check the pictures at Bug Guide:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/6943
There's a species called Pelecinus polyturator cited for Iowa. This is it:
http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/images/deciduous/pelycin.jpg
What do you think?
2006-10-22 16:47:00 · answer #1 · answered by Calimecita 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Im from Kansas and Ive been to Iowa several times aswell as Missouri and Illinois but I've never seen anything like it. You should take note of time of day, weather, season and what it was doing(ie was it trying to land on you, were you wearing bright colors etc...)
2006-10-22 15:20:54 · answer #2 · answered by Mr Pants 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is a spider wasp, that is common in your area. Google "Iowa State University Department of Entomology"
VERY impressive photo you have!
2006-10-22 15:19:24 · answer #3 · answered by renclrk 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Calimecit is correct, it is a pelecinid wasp. I have
seen them several times in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
I don't remember what the larvae are fed on.
2006-10-23 04:46:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wow, never seen anything like it. I don't think it's a wasp though, the wings don't look right...
2006-10-22 15:15:40 · answer #5 · answered by The ~Muffin~ Man 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think it looks like an ichneumon fly.
2006-10-22 17:45:06 · answer #6 · answered by PaulCyp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i cannot answer this except they are fairly common here in north central arkansas
2006-10-22 21:17:04 · answer #7 · answered by houdini 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, Its a white anglo saxon protestant.
2006-10-22 17:33:30 · answer #8 · answered by robert m 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋