Strange Bug? ( Updated with ID )

[Leon]

Hello all,,,
Neat category, when did this start?
I have not been keeping up with the program. Anywho....
I was at a local Tot-lot yesterday and saw this strange metallic blue wasps looking bug. It had a hold of a cricket and was traveling at a pretty quick pace across the sand. At first I thought I was looking at something I shouldn't have been, ,, but I'm pretty sure the cricket was getting ready to be dinner?


In (46) years of being here I have never seen one like it before. Anyone got an ID for this one?

 

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[Silver Searcher]

Re: Strange Bug?

There is a large wasp that paralyses it's pray in order to lay it's egg on the victim the egg hatches out and feeds on it's host, I think it's name is pepsis wasp (not sure about spelling) this might be your wasp

 

[SHERMANVILLE ILLINOIS]

Re: Strange Bug?

Leon,

neat photo.

Are you sure the cricket was not carrying
the wasp home?

have a good un........
SHERMANVILLE

 

[captain Jack]

Re: Strange Bug?

looks like a mud dauber. Close to a wasp, but not a wasp. Actually they eat wasps too. I think that's what it is, but not totally sure. They can be black as well.

 

[River Rat]

Re: Strange Bug?

You have those nasty critters too. I agree with the mud dauber...they work fast can have a mud nest built in your lawn furniture & on your porch walls within a couple of hours. Forever trying to clean up after them...what a pain in the A$$ they are.

RR

 

[Leon]

Re: Strange Bug?

Hello all,,,
Thanks for the great replies...

tyre kicker, You may be right, or at least on to something. The closest thing I could find on the web is what they call a "Cockoo Wasp". that does about the same thing with it's eggs.
There is a very small picture of one about 3/4 of the way down this page:
http://www.whatsthatbug.com/wasps.html

I sent the picture to that site and ask if he could help ID it for me. If, or when I get a reply I will give an update...
Thanks again all,
Have a great day...

P.S.> SHERMAN, Although he was a handsome devil, I don't think the cricket had a chance.

 

[outraged]

Re: Strange Bug?

Hmmm

 

[Cynangyl]

Re: Strange Bug?

rofl Outraged and his photo program!

 

[outraged]

Re: Strange Bug?

rofl Outraged and his photo program!

 

[Leon]

Re: Strange Bug? (Updated with ID)

What a magnificent photo of what looks like a
Steel-Blue Cricket Hunter, Chlorion aerarium, with its prey

The above quote is from the email I recieved from this site:
http://www.whatsthatbug.com/wasps.html

The Steel-blue Cricket hunter is a member of the Sphecid family and measures in length
from 1/2 to 5/8 inch with a 1-segmented pedicel between the thorax and abdomen. They
are a dark, metallic, steel blue with the antennae and legs being black and the wings, a dark
blue.

They can be found in meadows which have nearby sandy areas and are found throughout .
the United States. Adults drink nectar while the larvae feed on crickets and grasshoppers
These insects need a sandy soil nearby so they can easily dig a slanting tunnel which will
be used for protection and for laying eggs. Females drag their prey inside the tunnels,
attach an egg to the prey and then back out of the tunnel, closing the opening with a
sand and saliva mixture. The larvae feed on the dead insect and pupate in the burrow.
They emerge as an adult the following summer.

This insect is often confused with the Blue Mud Dauber because of their similar color,
and size but can be distinguished by the shorter pedicel of the Steel-blue Cricket Hunter.

The quote show here is from this Website:
http://www.no-pest.com/SphecidWasps.htm

Don't ya just love Tnet...
Hang out here and become smarter than you ever thought possible...
Now, if I could only be sure everything is spelled right, even with the aid of the "Spellchecker"...

 

[Nashoba]

Re: Strange Bug?

There is a large wasp that paralyses it's pray in order to lay it's egg on the victim the egg hatches out and feeds on it's host, I think it's name is pepsis wasp (not sure about spelling) this might be your wasp

You hit that one smack on the head. Often times the ones in the southwest use a tarantula for a host.

~Nash~

 

[bean man]

Nash, I seen those at Camp Pendleton. Huge orange winged ones flying through the air carrying tarantulas. Freaked me out!

 

[Boobydoo]

cool photo Leon, thanks for sharing! Scary looking...lol

Smiles!
BDoo