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Dasymutilla occidentalis
About 12-15 millimeters in body length, colored as shown. This may be a worn or disfigured specimen, but the color of western U.S. specimens is more subdued than that of eastern U.S. specimens.
Cheyenne Mountain State Park is mixed coniferous forest, especially pine, with Gambel's oak. The forest is interrupted by large open grassland habitat. This wasp was crawling on the ground over rocky soil.
1 Comment
Wow, her color really IS drab as compared with the ones I see. Still beautiful, though! :-)