Fragments From Floyd

Here's a beetle, the Locust Borer, that looks at first like a wasp or yellow jacket. That's what it hopes a would-be predator will think just long enough for him to avoid becoming a meal. For me, this insect--that I see always and only on goldenrod in the fall--is a sign of the season.

Note the distinctive "W" on the back. If you squint your eyes, the W looks a bit like the short membranous wings of a yellow jacket, but there may be another reason, or none at all, for this marking.