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Stump Stabber - Megarhyssa macrurus ssp. macrurus I was so excited to find this giant ichneumonid wasp (Megarhyssa sp.) laying eggs in a snag yesterday. I&#039;ve only witnessed this process one other time. I watched her for 45 minutes and would have stayed to watch the entire process, but I had to leave to take my son to baseball practice, lol.<br /> <br /> Habitat: There were 3 wasps drilling into this snag! Deciduous forest<br /> <br /> Video: <a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/U0X24paTHa0?feature=share" rel="nofollow">https://youtube.com/shorts/U0X24paTHa0?feature=share</a><br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/150556/stump_stabber_-_megarhyssa_macrurus_ssp._macrurus.html" title="Stump Stabber - Megarhyssa macrurus ssp. macrurus"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/150556_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=seT3Fs%2BOOkDzOo6vgtpFXboXiZU%3D" width="200" height="148" alt="Stump Stabber - Megarhyssa macrurus ssp. macrurus I was so excited to find this giant ichneumonid wasp (Megarhyssa sp.) laying eggs in a snag yesterday. I&#039;ve only witnessed this process one other time. I watched her for 45 minutes and would have stayed to watch the entire process, but I had to leave to take my son to baseball practice, lol.<br /> <br /> Habitat: There were 3 wasps drilling into this snag! Deciduous forest<br /> <br /> Video: https://youtube.com/shorts/U0X24paTHa0?feature=share<br /> <br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/150556/stump_stabber_-_megarhyssa_sp.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/150558/stump_stabber_-_megarhyssa_sp.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/150557/stump_stabber_-_megarhyssa_sp.html Geotagged,Megarhyssa,Megarhyssa macrurus,Megarhyssa macrurus ssp. macrurus,Spring,United States" /></a></figure><br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/150558/stump_stabber_-_megarhyssa_macrurus_ssp._macrurus.html" title="Stump Stabber - Megarhyssa macrurus ssp. macrurus"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/150558_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=U3TGKrGYAHsHWWpZCpGVhXmQDnk%3D" width="122" height="152" alt="Stump Stabber - Megarhyssa macrurus ssp. macrurus I was so excited to find this giant ichneumonid wasp (Megarhyssa sp.) laying eggs in a snag yesterday. I&#039;ve only witnessed this process one other time. I watched her for 45 minutes and would have stayed to watch the entire process, but I had to leave to take my son to baseball practice, lol.<br /> <br /> Habitat: There were 3 wasps drilling into this snag! Deciduous forest<br /> <br /> Video: https://youtube.com/shorts/U0X24paTHa0?feature=share<br /> <br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/150556/stump_stabber_-_megarhyssa_sp.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/150558/stump_stabber_-_megarhyssa_sp.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/150557/stump_stabber_-_megarhyssa_sp.html Geotagged,Giant Ichneumon Wasp,Megarhyssa,Megarhyssa macrurus,Spring,United States,giant ichneumonid wasp,ichneumonidae,stump stabber,wasp" /></a></figure><br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/150557/stump_stabber_-_megarhyssa_macrurus_ssp._macrurus.html" title="Stump Stabber - Megarhyssa macrurus ssp. macrurus"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/150557_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=p5Uq2xvbdyJ3r94945K%2BZ584Bfo%3D" width="200" height="154" alt="Stump Stabber - Megarhyssa macrurus ssp. macrurus I was so excited to find this giant ichneumonid wasp (Megarhyssa sp.) laying eggs in a snag yesterday. I&#039;ve only witnessed this process one other time. I watched her for 45 minutes and would have stayed to watch the entire process, but I had to leave to take my son to baseball practice, lol.<br /> <br /> Habitat: There were 3 wasps drilling into this snag! Deciduous forest<br /> <br /> Video: https://youtube.com/shorts/U0X24paTHa0?feature=share<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/150556/stump_stabber_-_megarhyssa_sp.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/150558/stump_stabber_-_megarhyssa_sp.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/150557/stump_stabber_-_megarhyssa_sp.html Geotagged,Megarhyssa macrurus,Spring,United States" /></a></figure> Geotagged,Megarhyssa macrurus,Spring,United States Click/tap to enlarge Promoted

Stump Stabber - Megarhyssa macrurus ssp. macrurus

I was so excited to find this giant ichneumonid wasp (Megarhyssa sp.) laying eggs in a snag yesterday. I've only witnessed this process one other time. I watched her for 45 minutes and would have stayed to watch the entire process, but I had to leave to take my son to baseball practice, lol.

Habitat: There were 3 wasps drilling into this snag! Deciduous forest

Video: https://youtube.com/shorts/U0X24paTHa0?feature=share

Stump Stabber - Megarhyssa macrurus ssp. macrurus I was so excited to find this giant ichneumonid wasp (Megarhyssa sp.) laying eggs in a snag yesterday. I've only witnessed this process one other time. I watched her for 45 minutes and would have stayed to watch the entire process, but I had to leave to take my son to baseball practice, lol.<br /> <br /> Habitat: There were 3 wasps drilling into this snag! Deciduous forest<br /> <br /> Video: https://youtube.com/shorts/U0X24paTHa0?feature=share<br /> <br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/150556/stump_stabber_-_megarhyssa_sp.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/150558/stump_stabber_-_megarhyssa_sp.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/150557/stump_stabber_-_megarhyssa_sp.html Geotagged,Megarhyssa,Megarhyssa macrurus,Megarhyssa macrurus ssp. macrurus,Spring,United States

Stump Stabber - Megarhyssa macrurus ssp. macrurus I was so excited to find this giant ichneumonid wasp (Megarhyssa sp.) laying eggs in a snag yesterday. I've only witnessed this process one other time. I watched her for 45 minutes and would have stayed to watch the entire process, but I had to leave to take my son to baseball practice, lol.<br /> <br /> Habitat: There were 3 wasps drilling into this snag! Deciduous forest<br /> <br /> Video: https://youtube.com/shorts/U0X24paTHa0?feature=share<br /> <br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/150556/stump_stabber_-_megarhyssa_sp.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/150558/stump_stabber_-_megarhyssa_sp.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/150557/stump_stabber_-_megarhyssa_sp.html Geotagged,Giant Ichneumon Wasp,Megarhyssa,Megarhyssa macrurus,Spring,United States,giant ichneumonid wasp,ichneumonidae,stump stabber,wasp

Stump Stabber - Megarhyssa macrurus ssp. macrurus I was so excited to find this giant ichneumonid wasp (Megarhyssa sp.) laying eggs in a snag yesterday. I've only witnessed this process one other time. I watched her for 45 minutes and would have stayed to watch the entire process, but I had to leave to take my son to baseball practice, lol.<br /> <br /> Habitat: There were 3 wasps drilling into this snag! Deciduous forest<br /> <br /> Video: https://youtube.com/shorts/U0X24paTHa0?feature=share<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/150556/stump_stabber_-_megarhyssa_sp.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/150558/stump_stabber_-_megarhyssa_sp.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/150557/stump_stabber_-_megarhyssa_sp.html Geotagged,Megarhyssa macrurus,Spring,United States

    comments (13)

  1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
    Ferdy Christant
    Lion
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    What an event to witness! I had no idea this process took so long, nor did I know what big physical stretch it is. Top notch photos too! Posted 2 years ago
    1. View Christine Young's profile
      Christine Young
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      Thanks Ferdy! It's amazing that they can "sniff" out a larva 14 mm into the tree, drill a perfect hole at a 90 degree angle, and lay an egg on the host!

      I've read that the process usually takes about an hour per egg. Maybe this wasp was having an issue, though? In the time I was watching, she didn't unfold the last segment of her abdomen to form the white disc that is seen during oviposition. Like here:

      Giant Ichneumon Wasp - Megarhyssa atrata This snag had several ichneumonid wasps drilling into it! It was so cool. There were two individuals of this species, but one was dead and dangling off the tree with its ovipositor still in the wood. The one in this photo was just finishing up, but I managed to get a couple photos and a video of her fixing her abdominal segments while resting on a nearby fern.<br /> <br /> Habitat: Snag; deciduous forest<br /> <br /> https://youtu.be/iKsDAJDImgk<br /> <br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/150560/giant_ichneumon_wasp_-_megarhyssa_atrata.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/150562/giant_ichneumon_wasp_-_megarhyssa_atrata.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/150561/giant_ichneumon_wasp_-_megarhyssa_atrata.html Geotagged,Giant Ichneumon Wasp,Megarhyssa,Megarhyssa atrata,Spring,United States,ichneumon,ichneumonidae,wasp

      Sometimes they get stuck or exhausted during the process and either don't complete it or else die trying.       Posted 2 years ago, modified 2 years ago
      1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
        Ferdy Christant
        Lion
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        Honestly, it's mind blowing how such behavior can evolve. Posted 2 years ago
  3. View Ernst's profile
    Ernst
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    A real contortionist. Just beautiful and amazing. Posted 2 years ago
    1. View Christine Young's profile
      Christine Young
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      Yes! They unfold their last abdominal segment 270 degrees! Posted 2 years ago
  5. View Thibaud Aronson's profile
    Thibaud Aronson
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    Great shot! Posted 2 years ago
    1. View Christine Young's profile
      Christine Young
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      Thanks Thibaud! Posted 2 years ago
  7. View Alexander Hassmueller's profile
    Alexander Hassmueller
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    Brilliant capture Christine! Awesome! Posted 2 years ago
    1. View Christine Young's profile
      Christine Young
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      Thanks Alexander! Posted 2 years ago
  9. View Yael Orgad's profile
    Yael Orgad
    Lion
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    Amazing. simply amazing. it took me a while to try and figure out what I'm seeing here!
    great catch of an incredible creature!     Posted 2 years ago
    1. View Christine Young's profile
      Christine Young
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      Thanks so much, Yael! Posted 2 years ago
  11. View t7iguy's profile
    t7iguy
    Lion
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    Amazing creation and creatures out there!!! What a wonderful experience and thank you for sharing it.
    Beautiful images!!     Posted 2 years ago
    1. View Christine Young's profile
      Christine Young
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      Thank you! It was incredible. Posted 2 years ago

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The Long-tailed Giant Ichneumonid Wasp

"Megarhyssa macrurus" is a species of large ichneumon wasp. It is a predatory insect, notable for its extremely long ovipositor. It uses this to deposit an egg into a tunnel in dead wood bored by a similarly large species of horntail. Another of its common names is 'stump stabber' referring to this behaviour.

Info 4 0
Similar species: Wasps, Bees, Sawflies And Ants
Species identified by Christine Young
View Christine Young's profile

By Christine Young

Attribution Non-Commercial
Uploaded Jun 21, 2023. Captured Jun 20, 2023 11:39 in 91 Main St, Sharon, CT 06069, USA.
country flag of United States of America Explore United States of America 39,925 9,640 8
  • Canon EOS 90D
  • f/11.0
  • 1/256s
  • ISO800
  • 100mm

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