Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

See Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29

Photos of insects and people from the 2015 gathering in Wisconsin, July 10-12


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
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#761160
Large Giant Ichneumon - Megarhyssa macrurus - female
Copyright © 2013 Scott Nelson

Large Giant Ichneumon - Megarhyssa macrurus - Female
Lakeland, Polk County, Florida, USA
April 17, 2013
Size: Body - 53 mm
This female giant ichneumon is the first I have seen in Florida, much less Polk County. It was brought to me by a student at my school. I photographed it at home. Antennae to end of ovipositor is greater than 6 inches. An incredible specimen and wasp.

Images of this individual: tag all
Large Giant Ichneumon - Megarhyssa macrurus - female Large Giant Ichneumon - Megarhyssa macrurus - female Large Giant Ichneumon - Megarhyssa macrurus - female Large Giant Ichneumon - Megarhyssa macrurus - female
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Scott Nelson on 17 April, 2013 - 8:23pm
Last updated 7 April, 2023 - 12:17pm

Moved
Moved from Long-tailed Giant Ichneumonid Wasp.
… Jonathan Hoskins, 7 April, 2023 - 12:17pm login or register to post comments

Size
The size evidently precludes the possibility of it being greenei floridana, which contrasts with the nominate subspecies in having the wings almost uniformly dark brown. As in most of their revisions, the the Towneses provided only measurements of forewing length of species of Megarhyssa. I note, however, that the similarly colored specimen from Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, which was measured at 35 mm. I have that specimen and confirmed at as Megarhyssa macrurus, and your specimen is significantly larger than that one.
… Bob Carlson, 17 April, 2013 - 8:47pm login or register to post comments

Yup, they're impressive.
I see them fairly often in my area. They're certainly impressive.

Incidentally, could you delete the date "December 31, 1969" and replace it with the correct date if you know it? Thanks.
… Peter Edelman, 17 April, 2013 - 8:47pm login or register to post comments

Please click on "edit"...
...and fix the date on each image--unless, of course, it was actually photographed on December 31, 1969. :)

Thanks.
… Ken Wolgemuth, 17 April, 2013 - 8:46pm login or register to post comments

 
My Bad
All photos edited to reflect the actual date of photo. Thanks for the good "eye".
… Scott Nelson, 17 April, 2013 - 8:51pm login or register to post comments

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2023 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact