At least it’s not a butterfly?

Photographed a Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) and an Eastern tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas or Everes comyntas) on campus, but this guy was something in our home garden that I haven’t observed before. It caught my eye because it’s all-black except for the antennae. My conjecture is that it’s a wasp of one kind or another, possibly a spider wasp, but I should get an ID from BugGuide.

Yes, spider wasp in “tribe” Pepsini (family Pompilidae, subfamily Pepsinae); http://bugguide.net/node/view/801076

Confirmed at BugGuide (05.29.2016) as “Entypus fulvicornis” (no common name); http://bugguide.net/node/view/801076

One year ago (“When you’re bigger than the petals…”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-07-08
Two years ago (“Geek Toys IV”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-07-08

[Michelle]

Looks a nasty beast :) Amazing macro.

[Jennifer]

Incredible close up!!

[Rick Schies]

But he is so cool.

[MaryBeth Dailey]

Instant fav! He is so sinister! Perfect focus! I have seen something similar but not sure I have seen this exact one. He is not glossy but matte... He is scary!

[MaryBeth Dailey]

Btw...the dof is amazing in this!

[Thom Mitchell]

@espyetta It *is* a spider wasp. Here are a couple spider wasp images you *have* to check out: http://bugguide.net/node/view/297984 http://bugguide.net/node/view/83146
“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight…”

[Thom Mitchell]

@espyetta That's part of what a 250mm focal length will do! I thought of you today when I realized that I haven't had the 18–55mm lens on the camera for days! The longer zoom is the default in butterfly-and-bug season!

[KAL]

Love your focus and composition! He looks like the bad guy in a cartoon. Actually if I was going to draw cartoons I would just look at the bug world. It is wonderful and amazing! Fav

[Tara]

OK, awesome capture, but I'm OK if you go back to butterflies EVERY day. This guys is creepy, but you got a really nice shot of him. Really like your dof and composition Thom.

[Glendq]

fav
that delicious scary look on

[Mags]

This is different! Cool capture!