Anita C. Leight Estuary Center, Abingdon Harford Cnty Md.A solitary wasp though not in this instance. Mating pairs are commonly found on wildflowers with large clusters (Queen Anne's Lace). Adults nectar. Larvae feed on moth and skipper larvae supplied by the female.
This male Eremnophila aureonotata was "sleeping" on some vegetation on a cool morning and allowed close approach--unusual for these. I held a piece of white foam behind it to make a clean background, and I liked the effect in this case. (The tough part was holding the camera with one hand.)
Summary[edit] Description: Eremnophila aureonotata. Shaw Nature Reserve, Gray Summit, Missouri, USA. 3 September 2011. Date: 3 September 2011, 18:37. Source: Sphecids. Author: Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA. Camera location38° 28′ 34.95″ N, 90° 48′ 14.38″ WView all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap 38.476376; -90.803995.
Summary[edit] Description: Eremnophila aureonotata. Shaw Nature Reserve, Gray Summit, Missouri, USA. 3 September 2011. Date: 3 September 2011, 18:37. Source: Sphecids. Author: Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA. Camera location38° 28′ 34.95″ N, 90° 48′ 14.38″ WView all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap 38.476376; -90.803995.