Last night, at dusk, in one of our Palo Verde trees I saw a bug. It's antenna was black, but all of

[in2herbs]

its body was orange including the 6 legs, its two wings were also orange but a small portion at the bottom of the wings was black. It also had the same black area on its butt. It was about 1 inch and slender. No other spots.

I did an internet search and found nothing. It's not a tarantula hawk cuz their body is black --- unless baby tarantula hawks have orange bodies. Could not find any info about this.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,

[wryter2000]

1. Not a clue

But I’ll k&r

[BKDem]

2. Maybe this?

Rhagonycha fulva. Soldier beetle.

It sort of matches your description.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/spenature_2/35874862166

[in2herbs]

4. That is the closest example I have seen except the legs were all orange and the eyes were also

orange. Maybe still all orange because it was a baby??? I'm going to study about soldier beetles. Thanks,

[Anon-C]

3. Aside from the variation on color, did it otherwise look like a tarantula hawk?

And are you in Arizona?

[in2herbs]

6. Yes, I live in AZ. The body did not look segmented and was not as thick as a TH, but maybe that's

because it was a baby??? I stunned it when I knocked it out of the tree (while it was munching on the yellow Palo Verde flowers) and turned it over on its back. It was amazing to see everything on its underside orange. Unfortunately, after I stunned it I went looking for a receptacle to put it in and as I was doing that it either flew off or was consumed by another bug.

[Fla Dem]

5. Milkweed Assassin Bug?

http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/bugs/zelus_longipes.htm

[in2herbs]

7. Too much black. Thanks. nt

[Anon-C]

12. Orange Assassin Bug?

[Demovictory9]

8. Did you scream?

[pnwest]

9. rofl

[in2herbs]

10. No, unlike when I see a snake! After the suggestion of it maybe a soldier beetle it took

a couple of website investigation but I finally did see a photo of a soldier beetle which is similar to what I saw. It makes sense that it might be a soldier beetle cuz we just planted some marigolds in our vege garden.

I still do not like bugs!! As an aside, we have a big flying bug in AZ that bites instead of stinging, and the bite is painful. I don't know what its called for sure, but when it lands on the spine area on one of the horses they are unable to knock it off so if I'm outside they come running full tilt to me to knock it off of them. Nothing like seeing a TB running full tilt toward you while bucking at the same time. Fortunately, they lock it up and stop just as they reach me and they know to stand as still as they can while I slap the bug and brush it off of them and then step on it. When these bugs land on a horse that you're riding the ride gets interesting real quick!

[Demovictory9]

14. omg. poor horses

[Lochloosa]

11. Orange Spider Wasp maybe?

[in2herbs]

15. I would say probably not cuz the antenna on the bug I saw was black and the body and legs orange.

Thanks,

[Iggo]

13. JEEE-ZUSS, this thread!

Yikes!

[Leith]

16. I might be off, but

could it have been a box elder beetle?

[in2herbs]

17. No chance of them being box elder beetles -- but they, too, are gross. They almost look like the

cone nose beetles we get here during the humid season. Thanks,