psyspoopJul 23, 2023

A very tricky wasp mimic moth

https://media.kbin.social/media/5e/d1/5ed131985fa2f4222cbdfdf24742668dab9104256c2881581712ca1ec741fd9f.jpg

Show threadpsyspoop

Found it in Northeast Nebraska hanging out on a plant on the edge of a tallgrass prairie and woodland while surveying for mycorhizal fungi. Thankfully I like taking pictures of wasps since I 100% thought this was a Polistes, otherwise I might have just walked on.

If anyone has any idea on an ID, it'd be much appreciated.

Jul 23, 2023 at 3:42pmWeb
Show threadraesinJul 23, 2023
Does it look like these: bugguide.net/node/view/15985
Genus Paranthrene

An online resource devoted to North American insects, spiders and their kin, offering identification, images, and information.

Show threadpsyspoopJul 23, 2023
That's also the taxon that I came to last night when I was trying to figure it out. Maybe! I have it up on bugguide too now.
Show threadraesinJul 23, 2023
Nice. Post a link when there is more confirmation! Great find and thanks for sharing!
Show threadpsyspoopJul 24, 2023
Nothing on bugguide so far except confirming it's in Sesiidae. On my iNat record, I had a Sesiidae expert ID it as Vitacea polistiformis