This unusual creature is a pelecinus wasp. Although it is scary looking, it presents no apparent danger to humans. I did not pick it up, but I did carefully encourage it to crawl onto a piece of white paper I took from my shirt pocket. It flew away after I took a few photos.

The pelecinus wasp uses its long tail apparatus to reach down into the soil and deposit eggs into May beetle larvae. When the egg hatches, it eats the beetle larva.

This strange black wasp is native to North America, Central America and South America.

Horrell is an artist and outdoorsman. He lives in Chaffee. He owns Painted Wren Art Gallery in Cape Girardeau.