Red Wasp, Red Hornet, Red Flying Thing with Stinger. (1 Viewer)

[IdahoRose]

Hi everyone

I signed up for this forum to see if anyone knows about a Large Wasp/Hornet
That lives in Nevada. My husband has described it to me, and I am dying of curiosity.

He said it was about 1 3/4 to 2 inches long with a Red Metalic-like body and red transparent wings. Has anyone seen such a thing? Do you have a picture?

 

[Katy Penland]

Hi, IdahoRose, and on behalf of all of us on staff here, a warm welcome to BirdForum!

Yes, we get them here in AZ, too, and the name currently escapes. They look like a combo of beetle and wasp, with a long pointy back end on them (that may in fact be trailing legs, but I've never wanted to get close enough to one to see for sure!). If I can't find the name of it, I'm sure someone will be along shortly who knows.

We do have an insect forum here at BF, you might want to post your question there as well. Lots of knowledgable folks over there.

 

[KC Foggin]

Hey there Rose and welcome aboard. I really like your avatar.

I've also copied your I.D. request into the insect forum so hopefully you will have an answer before long.

 

[Katy Penland]

Hi, again,

I think I've found a photo or two online: the Tarantula Hawk Wasp. The wings are red and the body black, but this is what we've seen around these parts. They're really intimidating to see fly in front of your face, with a total length of nearly 3" nose to tip of trailing legs.

I've attached a couple shots to see if this is the same thing you're getting in Nevada. Let us know, I'm curious!

 

[hexhed]

i've had (maybe) the same creature here in the northeast.

all red/ red-orange body, similar colored wings, about 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 long, long 'stinger' (probably ovipositer).

it was attacking my mountain ashes. it gets well below the bark and causes severe reactions at the site.

i still cannot identify it and, not something i was willing to chase down; a nasty looking wasp-looking insect!

 

[salty]

hello, welcome to bird forum! - interesting little beastie!!!

 

[christineredgate]

Hi,welcome to BF.

 

[Mark Bruce]

Hi IdahoRose,
Welcome and hello from Taiwan.

 

[aeflood]

Did you ever find out what this red thing was?

I have spotted the same thing. It flew right up to me and hovered. It was so close, that I know it has white eyes, or rings arounf the eyes. It was very bright. I think it was the same thing you saw. I keep trying to find photos.

Aimee

i've had (maybe) the same creature here in the northeast.

all red/ red-orange body, similar colored wings, about 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 long, long 'stinger' (probably ovipositer).

it was attacking my mountain ashes. it gets well below the bark and causes severe reactions at the site.

i still cannot identify it and, not something i was willing to chase down; a nasty looking wasp-looking insect!

 

[IdahoRose]

Hi again... sorry it took me so long to get back to this thread. Hubby says "nope not a tarantula hawk."

This thing was bright, candy apple red, Metalic in color. All red and very shiney like a candy apple red paint job on a car. He says it was HUGE!

 

[IdahoRose]

Hey there Rose and welcome aboard. I really like your avatar.

I've also copied your I.D. request into the insect forum so hopefully you will have an answer before long.

Hi KCFoggin.. thanks for the welcome. I created the Avatar when I had a website called "shezageek" It's long gone and I guess I wanted to still just at Av. lol

Still trying to find out what this hornet, Wasp, thing is... 5 years and still no luck.

 

[Bugged Out]

Idaho Rose,

I found a large red wasp this past weekend that I would have described like your husband did. I have found that mine was a cicada killer wasp. These are supposedly harmless to humans, but they look really nasty!