Insects

[Sage954]

First pic is 9am. Second is 6pm. I’m guessing female based on size?

[endo]

Aglais io, the European peacock

[Sir_Cuffs-a-Lot]

very rad

[SKT]

Beautiful

[motojobobo]

That’s a looker!

[twin]

Look out. Hornets.

[nurunuru]

Pelecinus polyturator. Took this pic years ago. Always exciting to see!

[Oaktavia]

@nurunuru wow what a wild looking insect.

[nurunuru]

@Oaktavia said in Insects:

@nurunuru wow what a wild looking insect.

Right?! Would not want to be a June bug grub around that gal

[motojobobo]

Curious as to what the utility of that outrageous abdomen is…any idea @nurunuru ?

[nurunuru]

@motojobobo said in Insects:

Curious as to what the utility of that outrageous abdomen is…any idea @nurunuru ?

Yep. It's an ovipostor, so only the females have it. The female is able to sense where June beetle grubs are underground and then lay eggs directly inside 'em.

So it's H.R. Giger-esque in both appearance and life cycle!

Also, despite being a wasp, it is sans stinger.