What is this?

[Machine 0]

I wasn't sure where would be a good place to put this but does anyone know what this is or anything about it?  It looks like a wasp with a huge tail. Any clue? Thanks!

 

[oldfatguy 0]

Kind of looks like a mosquito hawk or crane fly.

Not a dragonfly as it does not have a double set of wings.

Maybe a megarhyssa norton, but they are more colorful.

 

Just found this one - Crown-of-thorns Wasp - Megischus bicolor

http://bugguide.net/node/view/4709

[Docwatmo 2]

Looks like this.

 

 

http://www.trolettiphoto.com/blog/2011/5/Ichneumonoidea-Giant-Ichneumon-Wasp

 

 

 

 

[Hiker 0]

Looks kinda like a stone fly we have here, that long thing on the end is a breathing tube, they don't have lungs. Did you find it by water?

[oldfatguy 0]

I believe that long thing is an ovipositor, used by the female to deposit eggs.

[Hiker 0]

I'm Probly wrong OFG... I ussaly am lol

[oldfatguy 0]

I'm Probly wrong OFG... I ussaly am lol

Naww, just going through the process of elimination.  About all you can do on something like that.  Working as a team helps. Interesting learning about the different bugs, birds, plants, etc....  Keep throwing out those ideas.

[Hiker 0]

A mayfly has a two tubes like that... That one looks like its been smooshed or dead for a whole. I tie a lot of flies for steelhead fishing that look just like that. And your right it's better to talk as a group.

[Machine 0]

From what I can tell Doc and OFG are right on. It looks like that Iche......however you spell it.....wasp. It was one mean looking bug! 

[oldfatguy 0]

From what I am finding, they do not sting.

[oldfatguy 0]

Any idea what this one is?  I saw it along the trail during my hike last night. Elevation was over 6,000.

[greene 0]

its a buck moth

[Docwatmo 2]

It could be a buck and a quarter moth. ($1.25)  moose0024.gif  LOL

 

 

[greene 0]

:rofl:

[oldfatguy 0]

It could be a buck and a quarter moth. ($1.25)  moose0024.gif  LOL

 

 

Enough with the two bit answers...

[Swede 4]

I believe that long thing is an ovipositor, used by the female to deposit eggs.

I know what an ovipositor looks like and that aint it.

[oldfatguy 0]

What is this one?

[Watcherofthewoods 0]

Rattler?  I'd say poisonous because of the head shape for sure.

[razor sharp 0]

timber rattler.  tasts like chicken  :hugegrin:

[greene 0]

What's this

[oldfatguy 0]

timber rattler.  tasts like chicken  :hugegrin:

It is a rattler, but not a timber rattler.  It was photographed by a friend of mine about 20 miles north of here.

[razor sharp 0]

what kind of rattler is it. i thought there was only one kind in iowa. there coloration and spot arangment can be significantly different. i think everyone that runs into a rattlesnake  around here just calls them a timber rattler because there in the timber. 

[oldfatguy 0]

CAMPHORWEED CUCULLIA

(Greene's caterpillar picture)

[oldfatguy 0]

what kind of rattler is it. i thought there was only one kind in iowa. there coloration and spot arangment can be significantly different. i think everyone that runs into a rattlesnake  around here just calls them a timber rattler because there in the timber. 

This one is in the grass...sheesh.

Massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) . . . threatened/endangered Iowa species.

[razor sharp 0]

This one is in the grass...sheesh.

Massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) . . . threatened/endangered Iowa species.

cool, the timber rattlers ive seen are more grey with a bit more diamond pattern i think. (been a few years since i seen one.  pretty snake though, hope it dont go extinct.