I cant figure out if this was a giant ant or a wasp of some sort?

Question

I am in the alabama and there was a bug I had never seen before. It was the size of a medium size wasp but the body was blue/green with a larger head, and long antennas. It had wings that were psychedelic looking, changing colors when he moved. Had long legs like an ant would have. I am real curious to figure out what this bug was.

Answer 1

Many tiger beetles would fit this description.  There are at least three iridescent species of tiger beetles in Alabama.  Go to this site and take a look at Cicindela patruela, C. scutellaris, and C. severa.  You should find the insect that you saw.

http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr...

Answer 2

I'm not sure what it was, but I doubt it was a dragonfly, unless it had a 'tail'. Dragonfly wings aren't really psychedelic. It could be a horsefly, since they're pretty big, or a blowfly.

Answer 3

Learn to ID it with the help of these sites -

http://bugguide.net/node/view/15740

http://greennature.com/article1899.html

http://www.einsteins-emporium.com/life/a...

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/

http://www.insectimages.org/

Answer 4

it was a small dragonfly

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffclow/74...