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Photo#694127
Is this Megarhyssa nortoni? - Megarhyssa nortoni - female

Is this Megarhyssa nortoni? - Megarhyssa nortoni - Female
Fairfield, Somerset County, Maine, USA
August 23, 2012
Size: +/-40-50mm (with the ovi)
First I thought it was M. macrurus but after looking at pictures, it has different markings.
I found it in some trees at perimeter/border of woods and a milkweed/dogbane field. Another interesting thing, is that this particular cluster of trees, has had a strange assortment of wasps and flies always flying around the leaves, almost communally. I have observed bald faced hornet, hornets, yellowjackets, ichneumons, flies, and tachinid flies (i.e. belvosia and hystericia) all swarming around the area, for much of the summer. I have seen no nests, so it was scary to get these pictures as bald faced hornets buzzed around me, occasionally perching and "pointing" toward me. So, I got these shots and scrammed!

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Is this Megarhyssa nortoni? - Megarhyssa nortoni - female Is this Megarhyssa nortoni? - Megarhyssa nortoni - female Is this Megarhyssa nortoni? - Megarhyssa nortoni - female Is this Megarhyssa nortoni? - Megarhyssa nortoni - female Is this Megarhyssa nortoni? - Megarhyssa nortoni - female Is this Megarhyssa nortoni? - Megarhyssa nortoni - female Is this Megarhyssa nortoni? - Megarhyssa nortoni - female Is this Megarhyssa nortoni? - Megarhyssa nortoni - female Is this Megarhyssa nortoni? - Megarhyssa nortoni - female

Moved

 
ID
Thank you.

Moved
This leaf looks like it might have honeydew on it, and she appears to be feeding on it. If so, that would explain the flies and wasp flying around those leaves. It would be a good place to get photos. And I think you didn't need to scram. After all, the Megarhyssa macrurus in your other photo didn't try to drill into your chest, as she would only have done so if you were infested with Tremex columba. This female wouldn't have been after Tremex columba, though. The hosts would be Sirex, Urocerus, or Xeris according to Taxapad.

Moved from Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies.

 
honeydew
Thanks, I found that quite interesting...I'm just nervous around the bald faced hornets, but I'll try to see if that site is still active...