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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » parasitic Apocrita » Braconids and Ichneumons (Ichneumonoidea) » Ichneumon Wasps (Ichneumonidae) » Rhyssinae » Giant Ichneumons (Megarhyssa) » Megarhyssa atrata
Photo#217018
Some Form of Wasp - Megarhyssa atrata - female
Copyright © 2008 FranzNursery

Some Form of Wasp - Megarhyssa atrata - Female
Angola, Steuben County, Indiana, USA
August 19, 2008
Size: 1 1/4"
This was found in North East Indiana in the early eveining, up around the house. It's antennae are very bright gold, it has a large abdomen with three approximately 5" long "hairs" hanging from behind, one of which has white on the end.
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Contributed by FranzNursery on 23 August, 2008 - 9:39am
Last updated 29 August, 2008 - 2:10pm

Confirmed ID...
Yes, this is a female Megarhyssa atrata.
… Ross Hill, 26 August, 2008 - 3:36pm login or register to post comments

Giant ichneumon
See the guide here. I believe it's Megarhyssa atrata, but hopefully an expert will confirm.
The long 'hairs' are the ovipositor and its protective sheath--she uses this long ovipositor to bore into trees and lay eggs next to wood-boring horntail larvae, which the wasp larvae feed on.
… Charley Eiseman, 23 August, 2008 - 9:46am login or register to post comments

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