genus Gasteruption
male
When I first saw this tiny, slender wasp at Jordanelle I thought it had broken its back because its abdomen was sticking
straight up, as in this photo. It has leaf-like structures on its rear legs--quite the strange-looking dude! It supposedly got
its nickname of "Carrot Wasp" from its habit of visiting flowers of the carrot family. I like to think it gots its name
because its abdomen is shaped like a carrot! © Carol Davis, 6-28-2009
It was a quick-moving little beauty and didn't hold still for a second. These were the two best shots I could
muster. I'd like to find another one sometime. Adults in this genus gather nectar and the larvae are
predators of other insects in the order Hymenoptera (the same order as this wasp). © Carol Davis, 6-28-2009
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