Wasp? Found this on my basil leaves this morning. It has an incredibly long tailpipe, probably a good 6 inches. - Megarhyssa macrurus - BugGuide.Net

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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#327958

Copyright © 2009 Laura Kolk

Wasp? Found this on my basil leaves this morning. It has an incredibly long tailpipe, probably a good 6 inches. - Megarhyssa macrurus

Bolton, Connecticut, Connecticut, USA
September 2, 2009

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Contributed by Laura Kolk on 2 September, 2009 - 10:59am
Last updated 7 April, 2023 - 3:25am

Moved

Moved from Long-tailed Giant Ichneumonid Wasp.

… Jonathan Hoskins, 7 April, 2023 - 3:25am

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Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… v belov, 23 September, 2009 - 9:57am

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Megarhyssa macrurus...

This can be safely moved.

See reference here.

… Ross Hill, 16 September, 2009 - 10:32pm

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:-)

I have to admit I got a kick out of the "tailpipe" description of the ovipositor. Yeah, those turbo-charged, jet-propelled ichneumons are really something else....Nice image, though, and brave of you to get that close not knowing more about it already. Looking forward to more posts, Laura.

… Eric R. Eaton, 2 September, 2009 - 12:08pm

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Ichneumon wasp sighting

Thanks Eric, I'm a newbie at this, my first post. I am researching bugs for a children's book, and literally, the bug bit. I saw this wasp and grabbed my camera. Had I known what it was, I might not have gotten that close!

… Laura Kolk, 2 September, 2009 - 12:32pm

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It's okay to get close!

These wasps are harmless! The "tailpipe" is an ovipositor, the egg laying organ. not a stinger! Stingers ARE modified ovipositors, but these Ichneumons couldn't sting you if they wanted to! ^_^

… Breanna Lyle, 2 September, 2009 - 9:22pm

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Whew, I was getting worried a

Whew, I was getting worried at my daring, glad to know if she returns I need not fear. Thanks!

… Laura Kolk, 3 September, 2009 - 7:56am

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Glad to help!

^_^ she's a cutie, isn't she?!

… Breanna Lyle, 3 September, 2009 - 4:56pm

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… Ross Hill, 2 September, 2009 - 11:58am

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