American pelecinid wasp (Pelecinus polyturator) female at Chipera Prairie IA 653A4177
This female American pelecinid wasp is an amazing sight to see out in the field for sure. She can stretch out to over 6 cm long, as long as our index finger! Luckily, she is totally harmless to humans and cannot sting. However, the May beetle (June bug) grubs that she hunts for are not so lucky. By the way, you might remember that the five-banded thynnid wasp female also specializes in seeking out May beetle grubs for her larvae to feed on, so those poor May beetles are in big trouble here in the Driftless region. This female American pelecinid wasp sticks her long skinny abdomen down into the ground until she hits paydirt - a May beetle grub. She lays an egg on the grub and goes on to find another. Upon hatching, her larva bores into the May beetle grub and begins eating away, eventually consuming the entire grub. Then the American pelecinid wasp larva pupates right there in the soil and overwinters, emerging as an adult like this one the following summer when those ugly "June bug" grubs are getting big.
American pelecinid wasp (Pelecinus polyturator) female at Chipera Prairie IA 653A4177
This female American pelecinid wasp is an amazing sight to see out in the field for sure. She can stretch out to over 6 cm long, as long as our index finger! Luckily, she is totally harmless to humans and cannot sting. However, the May beetle (June bug) grubs that she hunts for are not so lucky. By the way, you might remember that the five-banded thynnid wasp female also specializes in seeking out May beetle grubs for her larvae to feed on, so those poor May beetles are in big trouble here in the Driftless region. This female American pelecinid wasp sticks her long skinny abdomen down into the ground until she hits paydirt - a May beetle grub. She lays an egg on the grub and goes on to find another. Upon hatching, her larva bores into the May beetle grub and begins eating away, eventually consuming the entire grub. Then the American pelecinid wasp larva pupates right there in the soil and overwinters, emerging as an adult like this one the following summer when those ugly "June bug" grubs are getting big.