Mydas Tibialis

This turns out to be a Mydas fly. Mydas Tibialis. It's huge and rather a formidable looking wasp mimic, but apparently entirely harmless to human beings. Not so harmless to the insects it preys on, however. Considered beneficial to gardeners, as I understand it.

I may or may not have ever seen one before, but I certainly hadn't paid attention or identified one before. This one was sleeping in the hayfield as the dogs and I walked up to our regular dirt road for our walk this morning. The Husband has been in Mexico, but returns tomorrow evening.

Late posting tonight because we just had some MAJOR thunderstorms blow through. Lots of wind, rain and lightning. Swee'pea is very nervous. Bugsy couldn't care less.