I found this monster queen wasp trying to get into my hives during our first warm day since October. Anybody know what kind of wasp this is/was? It went to wasp heaven.
(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j365/MichiganBee/Bugs/queenwasp.jpg)
Quote from: BlueBee on April 11, 2011, 09:26:19 PM
I found this monster queen wasp trying to get into my hives during our first warm day since October. Anybody know what kind of wasp this is/was? It went to wasp heaven.
(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j365/MichiganBee/Bugs/queenwasp.jpg)
:? How do you know at is queen wasp :?
BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
I'm assuming it was a queen since yesterday was our first warm day of the year and I was under the impression that only queens overwinter. I could be wrong, it wouldn't be the first time :)
That warm day brought out a lot of bugs. I found a giant water bug out by the night light too! Those things are creepy.
I wonder if Schawee would pick these up with his bare hands :-D
(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j365/MichiganBee/Bugs/waterbug2.jpg)
Quote from: BlueBee on April 11, 2011, 09:55:33 PM
I could be wrong, it wouldn't be the first time :)
LOL BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
looks like a cicada killer
In the first Picture I don't know the scientific name
but its in the same Classification of Dead Wasp or wasp's if more than one :-D
Tommyt
:-D :-D :-D
You got that right! Dead, is the best kind of wasp.
Hey BlueBee! I used to see those things all the time in Florida. They are scary looking aren't they? I didn't realize they would go that far north. I grew up around where I am now, and never saw one.
Edit: I meant the water bug...
BlueBee,
You are correct in your assumptions. Only queen wasps are available at this time of year in the temperate regions. Queens survive the winter and upon warm weather they start looking for a nesting area. They are also looking for food :evil:
I think I found an ID for my marauding wasp. It looks like it's a polistes Fuscatus (aka Northern Paper Wasp).
FYI... I found this bugguide site has a lot of photos for IDing bugs.
ID for the wasp:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/14227 (http://bugguide.net/node/view/14227)
ID for the giant water bug (aka Eastern Toe Biter). What a name.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/42199 (http://bugguide.net/node/view/42199)
Just imagine those big water bugs anytime you get in the water!