Sphex lucae is a species of thread-waisted wasp in the family Sphecidae. Sphex lucae is predominantly found in western North America, but specimens have also been collected in Georgia and Florida.Entomologist Henry T. Fernald described this wasp as: "Body rather slender; the head and thorax black; the abdomen black to red, the two colors variously mingled in different examples, the males being generally much darker than the females; wings varying from yellowish hyaline with a fuliginous tinge to deep fuliginous with a violet reflection; legs dark ferruginous to black." Richard M. Bohart and Arnold S. Menke proposed moving this wasp to the monotypic genus Fernaldina.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
We have no record of Sphex lucae being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Prionyx parkeri
- Palmodes dimidiatus
- Prionyx canadensis
- Palmodes praestans
- Prionyx thomae
- Chlorion hemipyrrhum
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera
- Family
- Sphecidae
- Genus
- Sphex
- Species
- Sphex lucae
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