Giant Long-tailed Ichnuemon Wasp (Megarhyssa macrurus)

Female Giant Long-tailed Ichneumon Wasp

This morning's temperature was in the low 50's. Drew went outside to water the zucchini plants and found this Giant Long-tailed Ichneumon Wasp on one of the zucchini leaves. It was waiting for the sun to warm it up.

Due to the cool temperature, the wasp was so still that Drew was able to go back inside to grab a camera. He photographed it from many angles.

The wasp eventually moved around and climbed up onto the camera strap. Drew took it up to the deck and put it onto the table for some more photos and a video!

This is a female of the species because of its long ovipositor (egg laying tube) that comes out of its abdomen. These wasps do not sting. They use the ovipositor to deposit eggs into holes inside the bark of the tree that have already been drilled by the Pigeon tremex horntail wasp. 

These wasps are parasitoid on another species of wasp, the Pigeon Tremex (wood wasp), and their larvae feed on the larvae of this second species of wasp. When mature, the newly winged adults come out of the hole in the tree!

She was using her hind legs to continually "preen" her ovipositor. Why, we do not know... By the way, I found this great Insect Identification website that lists Maine insects. Awesome!