The image appears to show a southern yellowjacket queen (vespa squamosa) on a wild rose, but it is deceiving. It is a large insect with a vibrant orange abdomen, dark iridescent wings, large black eyes, and brilliant yellow on black markings. When one looks closer, the front legs of the insect are being held out to mimic wasp antenna. Facial markings are similar to a yellowjacket, but a closer look reveals they are faked by simply being color on the large eyes of a fly. This is an impressive wasp mimic fly, spilomyia texana. The Texas Hornet Fly.
