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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) » Black Giant Ichneumonid Wasp (Megarhyssa atrata)
Photo#281715
Wasp? - Megarhyssa atrata - female
Copyright © 2009 Miranda Frey

Wasp? - Megarhyssa atrata - Female
Fulton, Oswego County, New York, USA
May 29, 2009
Size: body 2". tip to tip 7"
This interesting insect has been hanging out on the side of my above ground pool for 48 hours now. I checked in my insect identification guide book and the closest thing resembling it is an Braconid Wasp but it describes them as tiny to small. I would not call this particular insect tiny or even small.

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Wasp? - Megarhyssa atrata - female Wasp? - Megarhyssa atrata - female Wasp? - Megarhyssa atrata - female
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Contributed by Miranda Frey on 30 May, 2009 - 2:51pm
Last updated 1 June, 2017 - 11:48am

Yes...
Confirmed that this is M. atrata and can be safely moved.

See reference here:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/6324
… Ross Hill, 3 June, 2009 - 4:17pm login or register to post comments

Megarhyssa atrata
This is a giant Ichneumonid wasp in the genus Megarhyssa. Probably M. atrata
… Will Chatfield-Taylor, 30 May, 2009 - 3:28pm login or register to post comments

 
Wasp?
Wow that would explain the size then. I went out and got as close to it as I could without scaring it and measured it with a yard stick. From the head to the end of the body it was 2" and from the tip of the front legs to the end of the ovipositor it was 7" I am assuming that tail is an ovipositor if it is then I am right to assume it is female? Also do they sting? Thank you!
… Miranda Frey, 30 May, 2009 - 4:02pm login or register to post comments

 
Yes, a female
They are parasitoids of Siricid larvae (Horntails) which bore into wood and thats why the ovipositor is so long. Its really cool when you find them on a tree with their ovipositor in the wood. They don't sting like other wasps and bees.
… Natalie Hernandez, 30 May, 2009 - 4:30pm login or register to post comments

 
Awesome, Thankyou
That is great. I love learning about insects that I've never come across before. Is there a reason do you think that it has been hanging out near the pool for 2 days? Thank you so much for the info.
… Miranda Frey, 30 May, 2009 - 6:42pm login or register to post comments

 
Not sure on that one
It could just be attracted to the water, who knows :)
… Natalie Hernandez, 30 May, 2009 - 8:04pm login or register to post comments

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