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Eumenes fraternus
A black wasp-like insect?
The wasp-like species was observed at County nature Preserve work/maintenance area. It flew in and landed on the fender of a four-wheel ATV. It had in its clutches the green worm. It stayed only momentarily and then flew off. It then proceeded to fly around the area as though looking for a place to land permanently. It finally disappeared.
5 Comments
In looking at the sources, I agree w/ the E. fraternus. Thank you for the help.
Ha!
Looking at the stripes I think it is Eumenes fraternus. Definitely a caterpillar that cannot read...
Looking it up, it might be Eumenes fraternus, a potter wasp. It also looks rather like something from genus Zethus. According to BugGuide, E. fraternus is known to feed caterpillars, especially cankerworms (which that green guy might be) to their larvae. See what you think.
E. fraternus: http://bugguide.net/node/view/32193
Z. spinipes: http://bugguide.net/node/view/6950
There are wasps that will capture caterpillars to feed to larvae. It's possible that's what this one was doing.