ottercreek Loc: Southwest Ohio

The eastern giant Ichneumon wasp, Megarhyssa macrurus, shown here ovipositing on a rotting stump, uses her antennae to feel for vibrations of wood boring insects inside the stump. She then will oviposit her eggs directly into the tunnel of the insect. The hatching wasps will feed on the insects. Note that the ovipositor is formed from two ducts. The ducts are sharp on the ends for ease of penetrating the rotting wood. The photo is not as sharp as I would like as I could not locate the original Raw photo. Thus, not stored. Taken with a Nikon D2X, Nikon Micro 200mm and SB 800 used as fill flash.

Giant Ichneumon Wasp

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

saxman71 Loc: Wenatchee

That's a very nice macro image with a lot of detail. Good work.

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Indeed! That is a very good picture, with very optimal focus on a large insect, top to bottom. I had seen a lot of these a few years ago, and nothing recently.

It looks like there is another large insect in the background. What is it?

ottercreek Loc: Southwest Ohio

Thanks for the comments! Just a discoloration in the stump, no insect. I was cleaning up the debris around the stump when I saw the wasp. Got out my tripod, camera, flash. Must have taken dozens of photos. In my profession as a field biologist, I have never gotten as clear of a look of this species as I did of this one. Must have spent a couple of hours watching her!

EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England

Excellent image and information, your work must be absolutely fascinating.

Swamp-Cork Loc: Lanexa, Virginia

Fantastic image and great info!

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

I was a carpenter for my daily bread. If you get to level and keep going, are you more level? Your photos are excellent. I think you solved a puzzle for me. The main host of this parisitic wasp are horntail wasp larva(q.v.). They penetrate up to three inches of wood to ovipositor in(as was said) the tunnel of the host. I wondered how. The device has three parts. Two parts are independently moveable boring devices. These drill the holes. The ovipositor is a hairlike tube then inserted through the boring tubes to lay an egg. The whole thing uses hydro-logic pressure to work, thus that 'bubble' at top. I have a specimen of the black and yellow Megarhyssa that is nearly seven inches antenna to end of ovipositor. The larger of the two compared to M. macurus macurus. NOW, how to find them. Late June on use binoculars to watch at large limb to trunk junctions on large hardwood trees. That is where they are, where the host is. I next used a climbing deer stand in an ajacent tree. I netted from there. They are on top of the large limb. Look and you will see 1/4 inch emergent holes. This is where females will meet males, mate, and oviposit.
Now why the Icnnemons are a good thing. The prey is a horntail wasp. Pigeon tremex being one of them. They emerge on the upper side of large limbs at the tree juncture. So what?. The emergence holes allow fungal organisms to get into the tree. Years tater a sound looking limb falls on your house, rotten on the inside and cannot support it's own weight.
I know this was lengthy. I have never been short winded. BUT. I hope you enjoy the info.
PS, did I mention well shot?

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Amazing image and info.

ottercreek Loc: Southwest Ohio

Thanks for sharing your observations. Good info!

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

I went back for a few more looks. I am convinced that I may(but not probably) see a more interesting shot but it cannot be more perfect in my eyes. Top to bottom and left to right in focus. Again, well done.

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

You are most welcome. This is the only place anyone I know cares or remotely understands this stuff. Helps keep the brain cells active. We all gain.

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

And lastly. Look at that wasp. How can anything be so delicate and dainty, yet be so deadly?
Bill

ottercreek Loc: Southwest Ohio

Well, at 81 yrs. young and a retired biology prof. I assure you that I agree. Between this, handcrafting bamboo fly rods, and teaching classes in the latter, keeps the brain cells working!

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

Fly fishing, tying and repairing rods was about a twenty year phase. I am 71, like your likes, sir.
Bill. PS Did you know Hoagy Carmicheal' s son hand crafted bamboo rods about thirty, forty years ago?