Wasp/Ant Bug ID Help Please

[rev.tig]

Hi,

Can anyone help me identify this insect, it has two wings translucent with like a smokey band across them. It is approx 10mm long (measurements on ruler the same both sides). This is the second one we have caught the first got squished after biting or stinging someone in the house, it was hiding inside an oven glove.



It is possible that it is an immature insect as it did not seem to be able to fly and is quite docile.

Thanks in advance

[eucera]

I THINK that this could be spider-hunting wasp (Pompilidae) in the genus Dipogon. I would really need to have a very close look to be certain.

[rev.tig]

Wow! That was fast, thanks

Spider hunting wasp was one of the things I thought it looked like but had only seen pictures on a US site and did not know if we had them over here

The little critter is still under the glass, what kind of photos would help?

[rev.tig]

Update :

Well it is not the most co-operative model and all the shots I am getting of it are useless so going to set it free in the garden

Googling for that species, it does look similar but not found any showing the size of them, do you think I am correct in assuming it is a young wasp, and might not have developed flight capability?

Also I am still wondering how they both got into the kitchen, obviously at this time of year the windows are closed and they don't seem to be flying, both were discovered in the same area, and we have never seen them before. This may be a daft question, could they have been in the soil of a pot of parsley from the sainsburys and just recently hatched?

The only other question I have is from the victim of the bite/sting of the other one who has asked, "just double check it is harmless to humans isn't it?"

[hedgerow]

to big for me to have a go at guessing, but eucera is like mustard on these bigger ones.

[eucera]

Originally Posted by rev.tig

Update :

Googling for that species, it does look similar but not found any showing the size of them, do you think I am correct in assuming it is a young wasp, and might not have developed flight capability?

Also I am still wondering how they both got into the kitchen, obviously at this time of year the windows are closed and they don't seem to be flying, both were discovered in the same area, and we have never seen them before. This may be a daft question, could they have been in the soil of a pot of parsley from the sainsburys and just recently hatched?

The only other question I have is from the victim of the bite/sting of the other one who has asked, "just double check it is harmless to humans isn't it?"

1) Once the wasps emerge as adults... that's it as far as growth is concerned. All the growing is done in the larval stage.

2) If it IS Dipogon. These guys nest in existing cavities and successive cells are provisioned and the partitions are made of wood or mud. They overwinter in their brood cells. Inside the house, they would emerge earlier than in the wild

3) Unless the patient suffers from acute anaphylaxis (you would have known this by now), the sting would be unlikely to have a lasting effect. The stings of pompilids can be quite painful... but (in my experience) wear off quickly

[rev.tig]

Well it is now living down the far end of the garden

As it was relocated (the traditional glass and bit of card over it) it did seem to flutter about a bit in the glass but did not seem to be very good at flying, well better than me but that is not saying much

Looking at where they were found beginning to think they sneaked in via the exhaust hole for the tumble drier

BTW the patient is relieved

Thanks

[oxycera]

Pompilids never seem to fly about to any great extent, they just flit about near the ground (looking for spiders). Looks like Dipogon but far too early in the year under normal circumstances.