Black Giant Ichneumonid Wasp, Megarhyssa atrata, Sterling Forest - Blue Lake, Warwick, NY
Ichneumonidae: Rhyssinae. Ovipositing female. Most of the four species of Ichneumonids in the Genus Megarhyssa are parasitoids of the "Pigeon Horntail", Tremex columba, a horntail wasp (Siricidae). Female Giant Ichneumonids use their 3-part ovipositor to bore deep into dead deciduous trees, locating their host by the noises of the horntail larva in the wood, and the odors of symbiotic fungi associated with the horntail larvae. An egg is laid and the Giant Ichneumonid larva slowly devours its host. Read more about these spectacular insects at: bugguide.net/node/view/4158 and see this link for a video and explanation of how the ovipositor works: naturedocumentaries.org/3843/giant-ichneumon-megarhyssa-m...
Black Giant Ichneumonid Wasp, Megarhyssa atrata, Sterling Forest - Blue Lake, Warwick, NY
Ichneumonidae: Rhyssinae. Ovipositing female. Most of the four species of Ichneumonids in the Genus Megarhyssa are parasitoids of the "Pigeon Horntail", Tremex columba, a horntail wasp (Siricidae). Female Giant Ichneumonids use their 3-part ovipositor to bore deep into dead deciduous trees, locating their host by the noises of the horntail larva in the wood, and the odors of symbiotic fungi associated with the horntail larvae. An egg is laid and the Giant Ichneumonid larva slowly devours its host. Read more about these spectacular insects at: bugguide.net/node/view/4158 and see this link for a video and explanation of how the ovipositor works: naturedocumentaries.org/3843/giant-ichneumon-megarhyssa-m...