Species Megarhyssa macrurus - Long-tailed Giant Ichneumonid Wasp

Megarhyssa macrurus (Linnaeus, 1771)

Megarhyssa macrurus icterosticta Michener, 1939

Megarhyssa macrurus lunator (Fabricius, 1781)(1)

Megarhyssa lunator icterosticta Michener, 1939

Megarhyssa lunator phaeoptila Michener, 1939

Megarhyssa lunatrix Schulz, 1906

Megarhyssa lunator (Fabricius, 1781)

Ichneumon lunator Fabricius, 1781

Orig. Comb.: Ichneumon macrurus Linnaeus, 1771

Megarhyssa macrurus (Linnaeus, 1771)

Females of M. macrurus are distinguished from those of M. greenei by having the forewing pigmented along the basal vein (such that 2-3 distinct regions of pigmentation are present) and by the longer ovipositor length of about 2.2-2.3x the body length (3.0x forewing length). They also have dark vertical stripes on the face.(2)

Males are distinguished from all other species in the genus by the presence of pigmentation on the forewing (at the base of cell 2R1). They are also the only members of the species to have vertical lines on the face.(2)

e NA to Rocky Mtns. / n. Mex. (BG data)

Larvae parasitize Pigeon horntail (Tremex columba, Siricidae)

- Range: e. NA to Calif.

"Townes, who was knowledgeable of Latin and Greek, interpreted the name macrurus as a noun, which is implied by his his use of the new combination Megarhyssa macrurus in his 1944/45 catalog as well as in his 1960 treatment of the North American species of Megarhyssa. This is consistent with the above explanation of the name. Unfortunately, some recent papers have unjustifiably begun citing the combination as Megarhyssa macrura, apparently following the unjustified use of that combination in the Taxapad database. I see no reasonable argument for treating the name as anything other than a noun, but even if it could be argued that Linnaeus might have intended the name as adjectival (which I doubt), it seems to me that Townes treatment of the name as a noun has first revisor status." - Bob Carlson (RWC)

Megarhyssa greenei - Range: e. NA to Great Plains