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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#340498
Giant Ichneumon - Megarhyssa nortoni - female
Copyright © 2009 Mandy Howe

Giant Ichneumon - Megarhyssa nortoni - Female
Enumclaw, Forested Unincorporated King County, Washington, USA
October 1, 2009
Size: 6"!!!
She was huge; six inches (including ovipositor)! Was the biggest I've seen around here. I'm curious if anyone knows if it's really M. nortoni? That was just a guess based on other images in the Guide. I have no idea about what time of year the females oviposit, but this one seemed to be trying to get to our firewood which was under a tarp. I only got these three pics and then I helped her get to the wood.

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Giant Ichneumon - Megarhyssa nortoni - female Giant Ichneumon - Megarhyssa nortoni - female Giant Ichneumon - Megarhyssa nortoni - female
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Contributed by Mandy Howe on 4 October, 2009 - 10:25pm
Last updated 30 March, 2023 - 8:44am

Moved
Moved from Norton's Giant Ichneumonid Wasp.
… Jonathan Hoskins, 30 March, 2023 - 8:44am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Tim Loh, 5 October, 2009 - 1:16am login or register to post comments

Yes...
You have this right as M. nortoni. Gives me hope that I will see one of these sometime. Typically found around pine where they search for horntail wasp larvae. Nice find.
… Ross Hill, 4 October, 2009 - 10:53pm login or register to post comments

 
Thank you!
I appreciate the positive ID!
… Mandy Howe, 5 October, 2009 - 1:37am login or register to post comments

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