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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#405147
Really big wasp? - Megarhyssa atrata
Copyright © 2010 idealady

Really big wasp? - Megarhyssa atrata
Manchester, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, USA
June 4, 2010
Size: 6" - 8" including stinger
This was on the north side porch window at about 8:00am. I saw a similar insect in the same area a couple years ago, but have no idea what it is or where it came from.
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Contributed by idealady on 4 June, 2010 - 8:04am
Last updated 4 June, 2010 - 9:35am

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Bob Carlson, 4 June, 2010 - 9:35am login or register to post comments

Not a stinger...
This is one of the Giant Ichneumons in the Genus Megarhyssa--maybe M. atrata:



The long "stinger" is actually an ovipositor, used for depositing eggs deep inside dead trees. The wasp is spectacular, but completely harmless.

Welcome to BugGuide!
… Ken Wolgemuth, 4 June, 2010 - 8:36am login or register to post comments

 
Giant Ichneumons
Thanks for the info Ken!
I saw the giant ichneumons when I originally looked online, but the markings were quite different and I wasn't entirely sure. Thanks to your input I went back and found more information. Really fascinating creature. I wonder if they have a purpose other than keeping the horntail population in check. Guess I'll be doing some research.
… idealady, 4 June, 2010 - 9:03am login or register to post comments

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