Insects and Spiders

Crowded

The nectar of these wildflowers must be super sweet to attract so much attention. The flowers are all over where the ground is permanently marshy. They go by several common names such as Sweetscent and Southern Marsh Fleabane. The beetle at top is a Margined Leatherwing. The large wasps with the striped abdomens are Sand Digger Wasps. The giant red and gold wasp is a Golden Rein Wasp, a male. The females have a black abdomen, males red as this one does.
Southern Marsh Fleabane wildflower (Pluchea odorata var. odorata)
Margined Leatherwing (Chauliognathus marginatus)
Sand Digger Wasp (Bicyrtes quadrifasciatus )
Male Golden Rein Wasp (Sphex habenus)

Pluchea odorata var. odorataMargined LeatherwingChauliognathus marginatusSweetscentSouthern Marsh FleabaneSand Digger WaspsMale Golden Rein WaspGolden Rein WaspSphex habenusBicyrtes quadrifasciatuswildflowertexas wildflowernative wildflowermarshwaspbuginsectbeetlewhite rock lakedallas texassunset baypiernectarpollinators