Compsocryptus sp. or Ichneumon wasp

Female can sting but usually are harmless. They lay their eggs mostly in insects of a select few hosts. The larva eats its host from the inside out, usually leaving vital organs for last so that host will live long enough to provide food for the wasp. When the host dies the wasp emerges.

comments (4)

Christine Young

Lion

Very cool wasp! Also, I love the background -- is it natural? If not, how did you get those awesome colors? Posted 3 years ago
1. William Bodine
  
  Lion
  
  Christine, thanks so much.
  The background was created by a layer of objects. First, I used several citrus leaves and small pine branches from our Christmas tree (don't tell my wife, best seen in the lower left area) in front of a backdrop of a silver sparkle paper, when turned at just the right angle the paper reflects a rainbow of colors. I used a small DIY soft box, made using tracing paper and lit the backdrop with a LED light. It created a swirl effect that draws the eyes right to the wasp.
  
  I took 97 shots using a manual focus rail at a focus step of 0.1mm and used Zerene Stacker. Posted 3 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    Oh, wow! That is complicated, but so very well done! I love the effect. Posted 3 years ago
  2. 1. William Bodine
      
      Lion
      
      Thanks! Posted 3 years ago