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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) » Norton's Giant Ichneumonid Wasp (Megarhyssa nortoni) » Megarhyssa nortoni nortoni
Photo#186018
Wasp ? - Megarhyssa nortoni - female
Copyright © 2008 Globug

Wasp ? - Megarhyssa nortoni - Female
Ketchikan, Alaska, USA
July 4, 2006
One of our guests held this bug and it did not harm him. The next year I noticed two different ones flying around. Not knowing if they sting, or what it was I stayed out of the way and they did not seem aggressive. This is the first time in my life here in Alaska for ten years and in Minnesota for the other twenty years have I ever saw a bug like this. I'm very facinated with this insect and am trying to get over my fear of spiders. Love ladybugs and dragonfly's... any help would be greatly appreciated.

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Wasp ? - Megarhyssa nortoni - female Wasp ? - Megarhyssa nortoni - female
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Contributed by Globug on 29 May, 2008 - 1:17am
Last updated 30 March, 2023 - 8:36am

Moved
Moved from Norton's Giant Ichneumonid Wasp.
… Jonathan Hoskins, 30 March, 2023 - 8:36am login or register to post comments

Thank-You
Thanks for all the great ID's. The information was awesome, and I did find an interesting site on this particular insect.
http://www.cirrusimage.com/hymenoptera_ichneumonidae.htm
Thanks again
… Globug, 29 May, 2008 - 1:12pm login or register to post comments

Appears to be in the
Genus Megarhyssa - Giant Ichneumons. Female, could be Megarhyssa nortoni.

A beneficial insect.
… Gary Kessler, 29 May, 2008 - 5:45am login or register to post comments

 
harmless
these are considered harmless. I read they are capable of stinging if they are handled improperly.
… Lynette Elliott, 29 May, 2008 - 8:32am login or register to post comments

 
re: stinging ichneumons
As far as the literature goes, only ichneumons from the subfamily Ophioninae have the ability to sting if mishandled.

This is a stunning wasp, most likely in the tribe Rhyssini.
… Ross Hill, 29 May, 2008 - 1:08pm login or register to post comments

 
Slight correction.
I have it from an ichneumon expert that at least some females of the subfamily Ichneumoninae are also capable of stinging. In general, my rule is, if I can see the ovipositor, no problem. It is when I 'can't' see the ovipositor (read: "retractable stinger") that I exercise caution:-)
… Eric R. Eaton, 29 May, 2008 - 3:34pm login or register to post comments

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