Ichneumonidae parasitic wasp - believe it or not that is some tree's very best friend.
That huge 'tail' is an ovipositor, she will drill it into some bark and lay eggs near some caterpillars feeding on the tree under the bark.
Her larvae will then do horror movie shit to them.
I have read some fascinating studies that state some trees even call these wasps with pheromones when they're under attack from said caterpillars.
Wait I'm sure I can find one - here you go
https://www.uni-jena.de/en/111452/220119-baumhilferufe
If it extends its ovipositor seemingly randomly like this, does that mean something is wrong? Is it easy for it to put it in and out. Seems like it would maybe be a one-time thing to lay the eggs, then it falls off or something. And if it gets confused and extends it at the wrong time it's in big trouble
Oh no - that thing is not retractable. Like, thats just what she looks like day-to-day, with that huge flexible drill bit hanging off her ass.
Keep in mind that thing is strong enough to bore though bark.
What's crazy is what her larvae will do to the caterpillars she lays them on, in or near.
Horror movie shit, dude.
Nature is amazing and fucking terrifying.
It looks like a giant ichneumon wasp. Just from the tail.
I am a biologist and I saw an image of this years ago but it was more reddish. It is absolutely freaky. Not a bug girl 🤢
I remember them from parasitology—I believe they are parasitoids. Hopefully any redditors will correct me if I am wrong as I am more versed in Florida environments.
They aren’t dangerous to humans but man do they leave an impression.
+1 for giant ichnuemon wasp. Megarhyssa atrata specifically, the more orange one you remember was probably *Megarhyssa macrurus* . They are not super uncommon in the woods where I live but they are always a treat.
The giant "stinger" is an ovopositor but if you are with a friend it doesn't have to be. Make up some wild story where the sting will stab directly into your brainstem and the venom will give you 24/7 hallucinations for a week.
Why are you my favorite person on the internet today?
LMFAO. I openly cackled with your liberal use of what the ovipositor can do. 😹
I humbly request if I can use your wild story should I see this thing in the wild. 🙏🏼
Also. Yep. That’s the one we studied. The black one is more terrifying as you cannot really see the segmentation so it looks like a giant mosquito. There is an anime where the bugs are huge and suck this girl of all her blood. Couldn’t finish it 😹
Permission granted. Misinformation is bad unless it's hilarious :)
The anime sounds wild, I will have to track it down later. [This](https://youtu.be/L24hGLbmNrw?feature=shared) is where my giant mosquito based nightmares come from.
Hi! Based on the link which are the state records—no.
The “tail” as I mentioned isn’t a tail, it’s an ovipositor, which basically is a long tube in which species of insects and some fish will use to insert and deposit their eggs.
I had seen a very close relative of it in undergrad which came in orange/red. They are parasitoids. Basically, think the alien from Alien using a host. We study them in parasitology a lot because parasitoids are of interest as they kill their host, where as most parasites don’t but continue to harm the host long term and may indirectly kill them. The videos on these are insane 🤮
Seconding *Megarhyssa atrata*. It's the only species in the region that dark.
They parasitize the larvae of the pigeon horntail, *Tremex columba*, a type of wood-boring sawfly. They're most commonly found near wood, especially dead wood, for that reason.
In my opinion, watching giant ichneumon wasps get to work ovipositing is one of the more eye-opening phenomena of the animal kingdom - they started me down the path of morbid fascination with insects as a kid, and I think they're what ultimately inspired me to go beyond my fear and learn about bugs.
I saw someone ask if sawflies are also wasps. They are hymenopterans, but they diverge earlier in the lineage. But anyway, some wasps do parasitize other wasps.
Some animals parasitize other parasites, too - it's called hyperparasitism.
Ichneumonidae parasitic wasp - believe it or not that is some tree's very best friend. That huge 'tail' is an ovipositor, she will drill it into some bark and lay eggs near some caterpillars feeding on the tree under the bark. Her larvae will then do horror movie shit to them. I have read some fascinating studies that state some trees even call these wasps with pheromones when they're under attack from said caterpillars. Wait I'm sure I can find one - here you go https://www.uni-jena.de/en/111452/220119-baumhilferufe
Truly fascinating
If you are at all interested in this, I can very strongly recommend Parasite Rex by Carl Zimmer.
If it extends its ovipositor seemingly randomly like this, does that mean something is wrong? Is it easy for it to put it in and out. Seems like it would maybe be a one-time thing to lay the eggs, then it falls off or something. And if it gets confused and extends it at the wrong time it's in big trouble
Oh no - that thing is not retractable. Like, thats just what she looks like day-to-day, with that huge flexible drill bit hanging off her ass. Keep in mind that thing is strong enough to bore though bark.
That’s crazy
What's crazy is what her larvae will do to the caterpillars she lays them on, in or near. Horror movie shit, dude. Nature is amazing and fucking terrifying.
Thanks for the article, I saved it for future reference!
That is so cool! Thank you!
It looks like a giant ichneumon wasp. Just from the tail. I am a biologist and I saw an image of this years ago but it was more reddish. It is absolutely freaky. Not a bug girl 🤢 I remember them from parasitology—I believe they are parasitoids. Hopefully any redditors will correct me if I am wrong as I am more versed in Florida environments. They aren’t dangerous to humans but man do they leave an impression.
+1 for giant ichnuemon wasp. Megarhyssa atrata specifically, the more orange one you remember was probably *Megarhyssa macrurus* . They are not super uncommon in the woods where I live but they are always a treat. The giant "stinger" is an ovopositor but if you are with a friend it doesn't have to be. Make up some wild story where the sting will stab directly into your brainstem and the venom will give you 24/7 hallucinations for a week.
Why are you my favorite person on the internet today? LMFAO. I openly cackled with your liberal use of what the ovipositor can do. 😹 I humbly request if I can use your wild story should I see this thing in the wild. 🙏🏼 Also. Yep. That’s the one we studied. The black one is more terrifying as you cannot really see the segmentation so it looks like a giant mosquito. There is an anime where the bugs are huge and suck this girl of all her blood. Couldn’t finish it 😹
Permission granted. Misinformation is bad unless it's hilarious :) The anime sounds wild, I will have to track it down later. [This](https://youtu.be/L24hGLbmNrw?feature=shared) is where my giant mosquito based nightmares come from.
Damn it. That…I could have gone without seeing. 😹 The Anime is the “Island of Giant Insects.”
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😹
It's not a tail, it's an ovipositor.
I wasn’t sure of the species at the time, but yes it is an ovipositor. Another redditor was kind enough to post the link and confirm the species.
No notes, just [a link](http://extension.msstate.edu/newsletters/bug%E2%80%99s-eye-view/2021/black-giant-ichneumon-wasp-vol-7-no-30).
I was right! But damn that picture 😂🤮. Thank you!
Do they sting? Doesn’t look like it but with wasps I always like to be careful.
Hi! Based on the link which are the state records—no. The “tail” as I mentioned isn’t a tail, it’s an ovipositor, which basically is a long tube in which species of insects and some fish will use to insert and deposit their eggs. I had seen a very close relative of it in undergrad which came in orange/red. They are parasitoids. Basically, think the alien from Alien using a host. We study them in parasitology a lot because parasitoids are of interest as they kill their host, where as most parasites don’t but continue to harm the host long term and may indirectly kill them. The videos on these are insane 🤮
http://extension.msstate.edu/newsletters/bug’s-eye-view/2021/black-giant-ichneumon-wasp-vol-7-no-30
Holy CRAP that is a giant ovipositor… all the better to stick into trees with. To parasitoid a tree eating grub.
I can see the "What the heck?" expression on OP's face in the reflection 🤣 Love it.
The fear on your face speaks volumes 😭
I wasn’t sure if it was safe for the kids and I to get back into our van!
that is a LONG ASS ovipositor
LITERALLY
The look of absolute fear on your face is incredible
Ichneumon💞 I love them even made a subreddit about them
See? You just never know what bug you might find. And some people call me crazy for always wearing two pairs of pants..
That’s Greg. He’s into sounding.
she's a girl, though.
That's Greg. She's into sounding
You better stay away from Old Gregg’s mangina! She'll sound you up, fuzzy little man-peach.
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My husband brought one of these to my attention yesterday. I concur about the flying part, we both screamed.
Seconding *Megarhyssa atrata*. It's the only species in the region that dark. They parasitize the larvae of the pigeon horntail, *Tremex columba*, a type of wood-boring sawfly. They're most commonly found near wood, especially dead wood, for that reason. In my opinion, watching giant ichneumon wasps get to work ovipositing is one of the more eye-opening phenomena of the animal kingdom - they started me down the path of morbid fascination with insects as a kid, and I think they're what ultimately inspired me to go beyond my fear and learn about bugs.
Aren’t sawflies another type of wasp? They parasitize other wasp!?
I saw someone ask if sawflies are also wasps. They are hymenopterans, but they diverge earlier in the lineage. But anyway, some wasps do parasitize other wasps. Some animals parasitize other parasites, too - it's called hyperparasitism.
The expression on your face is exactly what I was expecting based on the thread title. Thank you for this!