Just another insect?

This is a tiny wasp called a sawfly. It cannot sting you. There are many different kinds of sawflies in North America. I am not sure but I think this one is called a black-headed ash sawfly.

Sawflies are common, even though you might not recognize what one is even if it sits on you. An adult is only about an inch long, and it will probably fly away quickly. The sawfly gets its name from the female's ability to cut a small gap in a tree leaf or a weed stem in which it lays its eggs.

I photographed this one Sunday afternoon when it flew up and landed on a lawn chair with me. There are so many insects in the world that, if added together, they weigh many times more than all of the humans!

AARON HORRELL is owner of Painted Wren Art Gallery in Cape Girardeau. He is a Bollinger County native.