What is this HIDEOUS looking insect?

[Gord]

Today at Cheam Lake a school class and myself found this large insect on the trail. Using a thimbleberry leaf, we picked it up for a closer look. It is huge and has a wasp-like appearance. The jaws demand respect. Does anyone know what it could be? Insects are not my strong point.

[trudi]

Hey Gord I have the insects app from Audubon's
(Great app)
I believe you have a northeastern sawfly

[trudi]

Ok now during the sleepless night I just had
I got thinking about this insect !!
Maybe that's what woke me up..so now I
Re- looked and it is a
Black and yellow mud dauber !

[butterfly]

Trudi, we think you were close with your Sawfly, this is an Elm Sawfly at these links: linnet.geog.ubc.ca/efauna/photoGallery/ShowStandard.aspx?index=4515

www.flickr.com/photos/junesbugs/2481446531/

What do you think?

[Gord]

Thanks for the good advice. It sure looks like a Sawfly species.

Trudi, this insect sure can give nightmares! Im pretty solid on handling most critters but this guy gave me the jitters. The long legs and posture almost gives it a robber fly appearance which would make it even more scary as robber flies are aggressive hunters of other insects!

[Dave]

Wow. Neat looking critter!
Nice pics too.

[kevinhhood]

I thought that it looked pretty cool until I scrolled down to the picture with fingers showing how big it was. Have you tried posting to a forum full of bug-experts? I was snooping around and found bugguide.net/forum which looks like it's full of knowledgeable bug people. I certainly don't remember seeing anything like that in my Dad's insect collection when I was a kid though he did have one similarly attention-getting specimen labeled something like "wasp killer" which still sticks in my mind (imagine a hornet 2 inches long).

[kenpossum]

Don't know what it is, but I really like the macro images. Well done!

[theanimal]

That thing would give me nightmares. That is one big "fly"...saw or otherwise.