Megarhyssa nortoni - huge scary looking wasp - Megarhyssa nortoni

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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#791634

Copyright © 2013 Quorthon13

Megarhyssa nortoni - huge scary looking wasp - Megarhyssa nortoni -

Bothell, Snohomish County, Washington, USA
June 11, 2013
Size: around 6 inches

I think this one was newly born as it seemed to be just waking up when I 1st found it - I took a number of pictures before it started moving. Also its legs seemed to pump up more as I watched it. And it started at some point while I was taking pictures to poke me with its ovipositor. Also to add - I saw another one of these flying in my back yard a few days ago - they are really impressive when they are flying around, since they are so large. I didn't get any pics of that one though. It was a little darker - but also clearly a female.

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Megarhyssa nortoni - huge scary looking wasp - Megarhyssa nortoni - female

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Contributed by Quorthon13 on 23 June, 2013 - 8:04pm
Last updated 30 March, 2023 - 8:44am

Moved

Moved from Norton's Giant Ichneumonid Wasp.

… Jonathan Hoskins, 30 March, 2023 - 8:44am

Newly

What was the temp. when it seemed to be just "waking up"? Newly emerging adults would, I suspect, be bombarded by males attempting to mate, so it would seem that this one wasn't newly emerged.

… Bob Carlson, 23 June, 2013 - 8:16pm

a sunny June Washington day a

a sunny June Washington day around 16:20 in the after noon - so not cold, I think in the 60s F.

It seems odd that a wasp would just "sleep" on a cement trail.... it definitely got more reactive the longer I watched it.

not sure if links work - but here are some videos I took of it:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0cfRFV-OSQ6myLbvoqGbVldgfGRoLDOj

… Quorthon13, 23 June, 2013 - 8:57pm

Impaired Right Front Foreleg

The cement trail seems to have wooden chips on it, but I am not sure that has anything to do with the female being on it. She looks to be in less than optimal condition, as her right front leg appears impaired.

… Bob Carlson, 23 June, 2013 - 9:43pm

maybe she was recovering from

maybe she was recovering from an injury as she seemed to recover and walk normally by the end of the time I was watching her

… Quorthon13, 23 June, 2013 - 10:21pm

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