question for the entomologist

[E Gregory]

Hi garden folks, I hope you will excuse my entomology question to this
gardens group, I remember that there is an entomologist (at lease one)
among us! Anyway, my question, there are some wasps using the Carpenter
Bee holes in my fascia boards. The wasps are shaped like paper wasps, I
don't know whether they're black or brown in color, but they use the
holes, I suspect to lay eggs, and then they fly up with a piece of
grass, the stem and blade, and put it into the hole. Right now there
are about a dozen pieces of grass sticking out of the fascia board on
one side (north) of my house. Any idea what type of wasp this might be?
I love this stuff and am very curious!
Thanks,
Eileen

[Kira Dirlik]

No one has answered. I have lots of carpenter bee holes, but the two
wasps I have build those pancake, "honeybee" plates, hanging down from
the eaves, or are the mud-daubers, who build the tubes of clay onto
the side of my house.
I would also love to learn about your resident insects.
Kira

On Fri, 16 Jul 2004 15:34:56 -0400, E Gregory >
wrote:

>Hi garden folks, I hope you will excuse my entomology question to this
>gardens group, I remember that there is an entomologist (at lease one)
>among us! Anyway, my question, there are some wasps using the Carpenter
>Bee holes in my fascia boards. The wasps are shaped like paper wasps, I
>don't know whether they're black or brown in color, but they use the
>holes, I suspect to lay eggs, and then they fly up with a piece of
>grass, the stem and blade, and put it into the hole. Right now there
>are about a dozen pieces of grass sticking out of the fascia board on
>one side (north) of my house. Any idea what type of wasp this might be?
> I love this stuff and am very curious!
>Thanks,
>Eileen

[E Gregory]

I really thought the entomologist(s) on the group would respond.
Anyway I did a search on
grass wasp and found references to a wasp species named, Isodontia
auripes. One site at NC state called them "grass-carrier" wasp,
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/clinic/Bugofwk/965880/graswasp.htm.
The pictures that I found were of the inside of a nest, so I don't know
how that compares to what's at my house. All I saw were the wasps going
into the ex-carpenter bee holes with a long blade of grass in tow. Now
I see the bee holes with the pieces of grass sticking out.
It's a very curious thing!
Eileen