What is this large, black, flying insect with red spot on thorax

Question

I've looked EVERYWHERE -- this thing is easily 2 inches long. Long thin wings lie flat against it when resting. Very black. Curled antennae like a butterfly. When flying, you can see a vibrant, red spot on it's thorax (bright as that on a red-wing blackbird). Will hang out on ferns, flies around our garden. I cannot find what this is anywhere. I'm thinking some kind of wasp, but am not sure.

Answer 1

could be a Clerid beetle . try googleing it and see if that is what it looks like.

Answer 2

Damselflies usually hold their wings along the body when at rest, dragon flies outstretched.  But they do not have antenna like a butterfly.

http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&k...

Antlions have the right wing posture when resting, but I have never seen much color in their body. But they do have an antenna like a butterfly.

http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&k...

Answer 3

Learn to ID them, here -

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/