Yeah, it could have been a scoliid wasp, except I recall it was more like
1.5" than .5" as the website below describes. I don't recall seeing any
stripes either, but its wings were folded back while it was digging (it is
also known as "blue-winged wasp").

In any event, anything that preys on beetle grubs is welcome in my garden!

Anne Lurie
NE Raleigh


"Tim Rowles" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 21 Aug 2003 21:17:35 GMT, "Anne Lurie"
wrote:

Today, when I was watering some tomato plants in a raised bed filled with
soil-less mix, I noticed an insect digging a hole in the bed!

The thing was shiny blue/black, winged, and was happily digging away in
the
nice light "dirt" -- making a larger hole than I would have associated
with an insect if I hadn't seen the critter in action.


Female scoliid wasp looking for June beetle grubs?

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/no.../note12/note12

-- Tim
trowles at rtmx dot net