Wedge-shaped beetle

Here is the photo from a different angle to help with ID.

Looks like a specie of sawfly Carolyn.
Like the portrait style comp and your dark BG, good details and the perch's cool too

Very cool capture Carolyn, pretty mean looking guy from that angle!

Very interesting creature, Carolyn, and the ID will be a big surprise. The first shot is technically well-done, but I'm really glad you included the second one, because that's the image that contains the ID clues. Your first guess -- an immature bee is incorrect because immature insects in the bee, wasp and ant order (Hymenoptera) have complete metamorphosis, meaning the immature forms are generally maggot-like soft-bodied creatures. The second shot shows those branched, comb-like antennae, which I don't recall ever seeing on a Hymenopteran. They are more common in beetles. The real give-away is that pair of horny-looking things growing out of the top of the thorax. Only beetles have them; they are hard, modified forewings called elytra. Most elytra cover the abdomen like a turtle shell, but they are underdeveloped in a few beetles like this one. It's a wedge-shaped beetle: Order Coleoptera (beetles); Family Rhipiphoridae. A really odd beetle disguised as a bee or sawfly.

Wayne, thanks for all the info on this critter! Very fascinating! Nature never ceases to amaze me with all its variety.

I did neglect to mention this guy was very little, less than 1/4"; not sure how big they get as an adult.

Carolyn,
This is an adult; it's just a small critter. Beetles also have complete metamorphosis. Once an insect transform to the adult stage (the typical sequence is egg, larva, pupa, and then adult), they generally don't grow or change shape.

Excellent macro image with superb detail given the small subject size, Carolyn. Thanks, Wayne, for the rest of the story.

Cool photo, Carolyn. Love the head-on view against the dark BG, plus the spiky vine. Looks quite menacing. Very nice placement of focus and DOF.

Carolyn - the detail on this shot is exactly where it matters most. Love the eyes and head on the beetle (especially the splashes of colour & reflections) and all those fine hairs on the plant stem (maybe even a few strands of cob-web to complete the story).

Thanks to Wayne for the ID and background - makes it even more interesting.

Love the face and fuzzy branch. No idea what it is, but a very nice shot!
Sandy

Very scary chap, but it looks great.

Hi Carolyn Great details on this macro intimidating bluffer.thanks to wayne for the info
Albert Darmo