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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » "Parasitica" - Parasitoid Wasps » Braconid and Ichneumonid Wasps (Ichneumonoidea) » Ichneumonid Wasps (Ichneumonidae) » Rhyssinae » Giant Ichneumonid Wasps (Megarhyssa) » Long-tailed Giant Ichneumonid Wasp (Megarhyssa macrurus) » Megarhyssa macrurus macrurus
Photo#348951
Freakishly long tailed flying insect - Megarhyssa macrurus
Copyright © 2009 David Barron

Freakishly long tailed flying insect - Megarhyssa macrurus
Wheaton, Dupage County, Illinois, USA
October 4, 2009
Size: about 8in

Images of this individual: tag all
Freakishly long tailed flying insect - Megarhyssa macrurus Freakishly long tailed flying insect - Megarhyssa macrurus
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Contributed by David Barron on 3 November, 2009 - 10:25pm
Last updated 7 April, 2023 - 12:02pm

Moved
Moved from Long-tailed Giant Ichneumonid Wasp.
… Jonathan Hoskins, 7 April, 2023 - 12:02pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Giant Ichneumons.
… Bob Carlson, 19 December, 2009 - 3:26pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Ichneumon Wasps.
… Bob Carlson, 4 November, 2009 - 8:38am login or register to post comments

Megarhyssa macrurus
Nice find. I agree with 'jbremer'. It's a female Giant Ichneumon. Scientific name: Megarhyssa macrurus. The freakish tail is called the ovipositor. It's the appendage that the female uses to deposit her eggs. From what I know, it's sort of a treat to get to see one of these. I got lucky and captured a few photos of a Megarhyssa nortoni early last month. Here's another one for comparison...and please make sure to read Ross Hill's comment at the bottom of the page:
Click to enlarge
… Mandy Howe, 4 November, 2009 - 12:17am login or register to post comments

 
macrurus
Perhaps it is macrurus, but the linked image could be greenei instead of macrurus. The former is a little smaller and lacks infuscation along the basal vein of the forewing. The color pattern of the forewing cannot be seen in the linked image.
… Bob Carlson, 4 November, 2009 - 8:44am login or register to post comments

 
What can I say, I'm an amateur :)
I am for sure not an Ichneumon expert. I feel embarrassed for trying to ID this one without the proper knowledge to back it up. I would erase the thumb link to avoid any further confusion, but I can't edit the comment any more.
… Mandy Howe, 4 November, 2009 - 5:31pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… v belov, 3 November, 2009 - 11:01pm login or register to post comments

Megarhyssa
Megarhyssa
… jbremer, 3 November, 2009 - 10:48pm login or register to post comments

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