Long tailed wasp - Megarhyssa atrata - BugGuide.Net

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Photo#54935

Copyright © 2006 suzanneg

Long tailed wasp - Megarhyssa atrata -

Fredon Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA
May 31, 2006
Size: 1.5 inch before "tail"

This wasp(?) flew out of the woods and landed on these leaves to drink. It moved from leaf to leaf for about 7 minutes and then flew away to an area I couldn't follow. I was near a stream in a wooded area photographing basking northern water snakes - this wasp was a bonus. The "tail" was extraordinary I estimate that it was 3 to 4 inches long.

Images of this individual: tag all

Long tailed wasp - Megarhyssa atrata - female

Long tailed wasp - Megarhyssa atrata - female

Contributed by suzanneg on 31 May, 2006 - 8:51pm
Last updated 24 October, 2007 - 4:57pm

Giant Ichneumon would be my guess

Megarhyssa atrata

-Gehan Gehale

… gehan gehale, 1 June, 2006 - 1:05pm

Ichneumon?

… Peter Hollinger, 31 May, 2006 - 8:56pm

Thank you Peter - I think you

Thank you Peter - I think you might be right - any thoughts on the tail?

… suzanneg, 31 May, 2006 - 8:59pm

[url=http://bugguide.net/node

Nice shot of the ovipositor. She must inject her eggs far under the bark or something.

… Peter Hollinger, 31 May, 2006 - 9:43pm

Long-tailed wasp

I noticed a long-tailed wasp entering my chimes metal tubes (in, & out all day long) I assume it's a female building a nest, & laying eggs? Am I right? Her tail is about 2" long..Never have seen one like it? Interesting..Joy..

… Joy Woodard, 29 July, 2013 - 10:03am

Ovipositor

You are right - I've been researching this insect since you pointed me in the direction of Ichneumonidae. Fascinating.

… suzanneg, 31 May, 2006 - 9:47pm

It's an ovipositor

- a thread-like egg-laying structure. So this is a female.

… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 31 May, 2006 - 9:40pm

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