A blue-winged wasp (Scolia dubia) with shimmering iridescent wings clings to a cluster of spotted bee balm (Monarda punctata). The layered bracts are pale green and white, tipped with speckled yellow flowers that attract pollinators in late summer. Native to Southeast Texas, this wildflower is a magnet for beneficial insects like the blue-winged wasp, which feeds on nectar while its larvae help control beetle grubs in the soil. The photo highlights the balance of beauty and function in native plants and pollinator ecology.
Although Bee Balm is native to Southeast Texas this picture was actually taken at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
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