Insect #2 ... and what a beauty he is, ugh, lol. That large copper colored abdomen covered in thick coarse black hairs, it kinda makes me feel ... itchy all over, lol.

Hi- The second is a Tachinid fly, like a Hystricia abrupta or similar. They parasitize other insects. Not sure about the first; it looks like some kind of hover fly but I can't find a match.

Here is a link that might be useful: fuzzy flies

Thanks for the link, good to know that the bottom guy is actually a beneficial insect, I sure was considering otherwise.

The first insect is a large bugger about 1 1/2 inches long with robust mandibles that would inflict a very painful bite, though I don't know if he's also of the stinging kind.

I think the top one is a sawfly in the genus Cimbex. They are described as very large and clumsy seeming with orange, clubbed antennae. Colouring is variable.

Northspruce, I think you have it with the Cimbex. Cool.

Bravo, everyone. I bow in the presence of such superiority.

Found this page which, incidentally, was written in Edmonton.

sawfly

*edit - fixed link*

This post was edited by SouthCountryGuy on Mon, Nov 11, 13 at 13:36

Thanks everyone for the interesting links that identify the big wasp like insect as being from the sawfly family.

This post was edited by twrosz on Mon, Nov 11, 13 at 14:12