I found this on my walk yesterday but unfortunately it was dead already or else I would hve brought it home to see what it developes into.
It was situated on the leaf of a tree about 4 foot off the ground and is about 12mm in length.
Can anyone tell me what it might be??
It's pretty dried up, but from the shape of the wingpads, the antennae, the eyes, and the thorax, I'd guess that this is a wasp that died just barely after emerging from the pupa, before having a chance to expand its wings. Maybe one of the solitary species that bores in wood, or parasitizes other larvae that do? Hard to tell for sure.
Even with a fully developed specimen, someone capable of identifying it, and with the specimen in front of them, might have to turn it on its back and/or on its side, and generally view it from all angles. So the two shots were helpful. In some cases more might have helped.
With a specimen which has neither expanded its wings and abdomen, nor coloured up, there are limits to what can be done. It looks like a wasp and would have to be a solitary species to be so exposed, colonial ones emerging in their nest.
Harold
My images are a medium for sharing some of my experiences: they are not me.
Thanks everyone for the input. I should have taken a picture of the underside too but did not think of it at the time. I appreciate all the help on this one.
Tis a creepy looking critter fer sure. Reminds me of those cicada carapaces I find around every now and again. No, I would not venture even a guess as to what it could be, though I agree with the concensus that it may be a wasp. Good shots Joan.
Thanks for the comments. It definitely was creepy looking and I thought it might be some kind of cricket, but my knowledge of these things is less than nil.