# Entomological help needed (identify an insect) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 19, 2006, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entomological-help-needed-identify-an-insect/384786 "2006-12-19T15:58:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entomological-help-needed-identify-an-insect/384786/1 "2006-12-19T15:58:52Z")
There is an insect, or former insect (he’s pushing up daisies) upon my filing cabinet. I’m not sure how he got there, but he is most definitely belly up. It is : - black with white spots - the spots are symmetrical, with a pair that are somewhat pronounced on the back (look sort of like eyes), but not much bigger than the other dots. - two sleek wings, also black with white spots, about 2" wingspan - red tip at the end of it’s abdomen - abdomen is fairly consistent in diameter along the entire body, with no pronounced thin thorax (think bee more than wasp), just under 3/16 of an inch across. - it looks “dangerous”, but does not appear to have any stinger still attached. - total body length is about 3/4 of an inch. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entomological-help-needed-identify-an-insect/384786/2 "2006-12-19T16:03:58Z")
I realise this picture is mismatched to your description in one or two places, but in the absence of your own snapshot, perhaps it will serve as a datum from which we can compare features. [Ichneumon Fly](http://www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/forest1/FOLDER01/Ichneumon_fly_egg_laying.jpg) In what way(s) is your specimen different? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entomological-help-needed-identify-an-insect/384786/3 "2006-12-19T16:04:49Z")
Forgot to mention, fwiw, I am in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entomological-help-needed-identify-an-insect/384786/4 "2006-12-19T16:06:43Z")
Or have you something more like this: [![](https://bugguide.net/images/cache/XKA/K5K/XKAK5K1KKKY02QT08QD0BQZSAQJ05QV0PQPKRKD08Q10NQJ0AQY05QNK0KUKGKCK1QHSIKZS9Q1KNQY09Q1KNQF0.jpg) ](https://bugguide.net/images/cache/XKA/K5K/XKAK5K1KKKY02QT08QD0BQZSAQJ05QV0PQPKRKD08Q10NQJ0AQY05QNK0KUKGKCK1QHSIKZS9Q1KNQY09Q1KNQF0.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entomological-help-needed-identify-an-insect/384786/5 "2006-12-19T16:08:46Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] I realise this picture is mismatched to your description in one or two places, but in the absence of your own snapshot, perhaps it will serve as a datum from which we can compare features. [Ichneumon Fly](http://www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/forest1/FOLDER01/Ichneumon_fly_egg_laying.jpg) In what way(s) is your specimen different? [/QUOTE] - Wings are solid black with white spots - not translucent - the thorax is not narrowed and seems straight back - no long stinger or other thin appendage from the rear. - tip of the abdomen is solid red about 2-3 centimeters along the end. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entomological-help-needed-identify-an-insect/384786/6 "2006-12-19T16:11:06Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Or have you something more like this: [![](https://www.bugguide.net/images/cache/XKA/K5K/XKAK5K1KKKY02QT08QD0BQZSAQJ05QV0PQPKRKD08Q10NQJ0AQY05QNK0KUKGKCK1QHSIKZS9Q1KNQY09Q1KNQF0.jpg) ](https://www.bugguide.net/images/cache/XKA/K5K/XKAK5K1KKKY02QT08QD0BQZSAQJ05QV0PQPKRKD08Q10NQJ0AQY05QNK0KUKGKCK1QHSIKZS9Q1KNQY09Q1KNQF0.jpg) [/QUOTE] Nice guesses based on the limited info I’ve given. I’d say it’s somewhere between the two. ---
**Author:** ![A.I.Wintermute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@A.I.Wintermute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.I.Wintermute)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entomological-help-needed-identify-an-insect/384786/7 "2006-12-19T21:18:38Z")
The Polka-Dot Wasp Moth looks a lot like **Mangetout** ’s last guess but I think it shares a few more features with your description. Here are [a](http://www.whatsthatbug.com/images/polkadot_john.jpg) [few](http://www.whatsthatbug.com/images/polkadot_patricia.jpg) [pictures](http://www.whatsthatbug.com/images/polkadot_stacy.jpg) to compare. These came from the ever-helpful [whatsthatbug.com](http://www.whatsthatbug.com/moths_3.html). Scroll down to find where I got the Polka-Dot Wasp Moth pics from. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entomological-help-needed-identify-an-insect/384786/8 "2006-12-19T21:48:35Z")
[QUOTE=A. I. Wintermute] The Polka-Dot Wasp Moth looks a lot like **Mangetout** ’s last guess but I think it shares a few more features with your description. Here are [a](http://www.whatsthatbug.com/images/polkadot_john.jpg) [few](http://www.whatsthatbug.com/images/polkadot_patricia.jpg) [pictures](http://www.whatsthatbug.com/images/polkadot_stacy.jpg) to compare. These came from the ever-helpful [whatsthatbug.com](http://www.whatsthatbug.com/moths_3.html). Scroll down to find where I got the Polka-Dot Wasp Moth pics from. [/QUOTE] We have a winner! One of the What’s That Bug entries is even from our area, and it’s larvae feed on the oleander trees right outside: > [@](#): > > The Polka-Dot Wasp Moth, Syntomeida epilais, can get very numerous at times, and the orange caterpillars feed on oleander leaves. We found a site with much information on this species. You all are great! Now I can learn more about them… I thought it was some sort of mimic, which I find fascinating.