Subject: Wasp ?
Location: Victoria BC Canada
June 26, 2014 10:13 pm
I have a group of these flying around one section of my property. They look like wasps, but are much thinner and longer. They hover low to the ground, seeming to fly in circles, and dont seem to be going to a ‘ nest ‘ that I can see. They also do not seem to be aggressive like the other pesky wasps…yet. They have been hovering in the same area now for just about a week
Are these a threat to my Pets, and what are the advantages / disadvantages to them and how do I get rid of them.
Thanks
Signature: Randie Ruckle

Ichneumon

Dear Randie,
In 2008, we posted some images that were identified as Ichneumons, members of a family of wasps that parasitize other insects and sometimes other arthropods, but as it is a very large family, we never drilled down to the species level.  Recently there has been a flurry of comments from the Pacific Northwest to that posting including reports of stings or bites, and since you have provided us with new images, we have decided to see if we are able to properly identify this Ichneumon and provide any relevant information.  This may take some time, but we will work on it.  Your Ichneumons seem to resemble members of the tribe Ichneumonini based on BugGuide images, but they might be in a different tribe.  BugGuide states:  “About 5,000 described species in North America, possibly 3,000 more undescribed; arguably, the largest animal family, with the estimated 60,000 species worldwide (up to 100,000, according to some estimates,” and they do have an extensive archive of Ichneumons.   Pouring through it will take some time.  If the information we have provided leads you to an identification before we get back to you, please give us an update.

Ichneumon

Update:  We did locate a matching image on Island Nature devoted to Vancouver Island, but it is not identified.

Thanks so much for the info.
I think my concern is there are alot of them in that section. I would say about 50 at least, all hovering ( flying )  just about ground level. From what I have read in Wiki, they ae supposed to be solitary.  There does not seem to be a ” nest ” that I can see them going to. The area is about 10 x 20 feet, give or take, that they are congregating in.  I dont really want a group of stinging insects around with my 2 19 year old dogs and my indoor/outdoor cat.
Thanks again. Any info is great !
R

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Subject: flying bug
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada
June 27, 2014 10:47 am
In our backyard we seen a flying bug with something green coming from its tail? The green was circular in shape.
Signature: Len

Stump Stabber laying eggs

Hi Len,
This is a female Stump Stabber or Giant Ichneumon, Megarhyssa atrata, and the eggs she lays will hatch into larvae that will feed upon and parasitize the larvae of Wood Wasps that are feeding beneath the surface.  Has you checked out our featured postings, you would have seen that the Stump Stabber is our Bug of the Month for July 2014.  The green membrane is part of the structure of the long ovipositor which allows the Stump Stabber to lay her eggs well below the surface of the bark.

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Subject: wasp?
Location: Anchorage
June 29, 2014 4:45 pm
This appears to be a wood wasp…. bit the extra long stinger? Wood bore tool? Should I be looking fora nest? Dangerous to me or my dogs?
Signature: cautiously fascinated in Alaska

Giant Ichneumon or Stump Stabber

Dear cautiously fascinated in Alaska,
This is a Giant Ichneumon or Stump Stabber in the genus Megarhyssa, not a Wood Wasp, however, the female Stump Stabber does use her lengthy ovipositor to lay eggs beneath the surface of wood that has been infested with the boring larvae of Wood Wasps, the only food upon which the developing larva of the Giant Ichneumon will feed.  They do not build nests as they are solitary parasitoids and they do not pose a danger to you or your dogs, though we admit that any ovipositor that can penetrate wood might be able to penetrate human skin, however, these Giant Ichneumons are not aggressive toward humans. 

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Subject: Ichneumon in Pacific Northwest
Location: Lacey, Washington (Southwestern Washington )
June 30, 2014 6:33 pm
Hello,
I used whatsthatbug.com to identify some new visitors to my front yard. After finding in your 2008 archives what appears to be the same wasp as I have, I would like to share some photos with you to share if you wish.
Signature: Lisa

Unidentified Ichneumon

Dear Lisa,
Thank you for sending additional images of this still unidentified Ichneumon from the Pacific Northwest.

Unidentified Ichneumon

Unidentified Ichneumon

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Subject: Huge Bug on Mirror
Location: Vancouver, BC.
July 1, 2014 5:06 pm
Hi Bugman,
I’m trying to figure out what this is- it was in my friend’s house today and its HUGE! It looks like its some sort of Mantis or something- Any ideas?
Signature: Jonathan

Ichneumon startles residents

Hi Jonathan,
The look on your face is quite startled.  This is some species of Ichneumon, a family of Parasitoid Wasps that are not aggressive, though we have occasionally gotten reports from folks who have been stung.  Female Ichneumons lay eggs on or near specific insect or arthropod hosts and the larval Ichneumon feeds on the host insect, eventually killing it.  We are unable to determine the species of Ichneumon that entered your friend’s home.  According to BugGuide, the family Ichneumonidae:  “About 5,000 described species in North America, possibly 3,000 more undescribed; arguably, the largest animal family, with the estimated 60,000 species worldwide (up to 100,000, according to some estimates).”

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Subject: What is it
Location: Minnesota
July 4, 2014 11:50 am
We saw this bug on our dying oak tree. He and his friends remind me of a scorpion but we live in Minnesota.
Signature: P.Pratt

Stump Stabber

Dear P.Pratt,
This is a magnificent image of a female Megarhyssa atrata, commonly called a Stump Stabber.  The female Stump Stabber uses her lengthy ovipositor to place her eggs deep beneath the surface of dead and dying trees that are infested with the larvae of Pigeon Horntails and other Wood Wasps.  The larvae of the Stump Stabbers hatch and feed upon the larvae of the Wood Wasps.  They are considered parasitoids that parasitize and eventually kill the host insect.

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Subject: Slow flying wasp/dragonfly hybrid?
Location: Sammamish, WA
July 14, 2014 4:19 pm
Dear Bugman, we found this flying beauty in iut kitchen today. He/She is approx 2.5″ long in the body with slightly smaller wingspan and a 3″ long stingy stinger looking thing hanging from its rear end. Very beautiful and flies rather slow. Body is black and white with clear wings and bright orangish yellow legs (long and lanky legs with interesting joints). We contained it long enough to take a few photos and some video then let it free outside. Any guess on what it is- I’ve never seen one before?
Signature: The Joyce family

Ichneumon: Rhyssa lineolata

Dear Joyce family,
This is a Parasitic Ichneumon Wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, and according to BugGuide, there are:  “About 5,000 described species in North America, possibly 3,000 more undescribed(2); arguably, the largest animal family, with the estimated 60,000 species worldwide (up to 100,000, according to some estimates.”  We believe we have correctly identified your Ichneumon as Rhyssa lineolata based on this image posted to BugGuide.

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Subject: What is this?
Location: hamilton michigan united states
July 19, 2014 4:16 pm
This bug flew into our window when we drove into town …Kind of scary looking! what is it and should we be concerned?
Signature: Tammy Davis

Stump Stabber

Hi Tammy,
This Giant Ichneumon, Megarhyssa atrata, is commonly called a Stump Stabber.  The female of the species possesses an ovipositor that can approach five inches in length which she uses to deposit her eggs deep beneath the surface of trees and stumps that are infested with the wood boring larvae of Wood Wasps like the Pigeon Horntail.  The larval Stump Stabber feeds on the Horntail larva and then pupates, emerging from the stump as a winged adult.  Male Stump Stabbers which lack the ovipositor, can sense the emergence of a female through the release of pheromones and will congregate and await her coming to the surface in order to mate.  You have nothing to fear from the Stump Stabber unless a female mistakes an arm or leg for an infested log.  Wasps do have mandibles, and since both male and female Stump Stabbers must chew their way to the surface of the stump they developed in, they might also bite a person, but we do not believe such a bite would hurt or cause any problem.

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Subject: Strange wasp? Cape Cod
Location: Cape Cod, MA
July 21, 2014 5:56 am
My niece was in Cape Cod last year and couldn’t identify what this (wasp?) is. I’ve never seen anything like it. She asked several scientists that were there too and they couldn’t either. I don’t know if any were entomologists. It was just hanging out on a picnic table I believe.
Signature: Joe

Stump Stabber

Hi Joe,
We sincerely doubt that any of the scientists were entomologists, because even those that specialize in other insect orders should recognize a Giant Ichneumon or Stump Stabber in the genus Megarhyssa.  Despite the formidable looking ovipositor, Giant Ichneumons are not aggressive and they are not capable of stinging humans.  With that stated, the ovipositor is used by the female to lay eggs beneath the surface of dead and dying trees and stumps that contain the wood boring larvae of Horntails and Woodwasps, so it might be possible for the ovipositor to pierce human skin, though we think it is highly unlikely for a Stump Stabber to mistake a human limb for an infested tree.  Several members of the genus look very similar, so we are reluctant to attempt a species identification.  Another distinctive member of the genus, Megarhyssa atrata, is our featured Bug of the Month for July 2014.

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Subject: Freaked out mom
Location: Maryland/Pennsylvania
August 11, 2014 3:03 pm
Found this bug up at grandpas farm. Wondering what it is worried if it stings the kids. Found it a few weeks ago hanging around the dead walnut tree.
Signature: Concerned

Stump Stabber laying eggs

Dear Concerned,
This is a female Ichneumon in the genus Megarhyssa, commonly called a Stump Stabber.  She is in the process of laying eggs.  Stump Stabbers are not aggressive towards humans.  The eggs layed beneath the bark will parasitize the larvae of Wood Wasps that are feeding on the dead or dying tree.

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Subject: Unidentified wasp?
Location: Fannie, Ark.
August 25, 2014 8:57 am
Found and photographed a couple of days ago in Montgomery County, Arkansas. I think its a wasp but would like to know what kind. Thank you.
Signature: Bill Burton

Ichneumon

Dear Bill,
We believe this is a Parasitic Wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, a large and diverse family.  According to BugGuide:  “About 5,000 described species in North America, possibly 3,000 more undescribed(2); arguably, the largest animal family, with the estimated 60,000 species worldwide (up to 100,000, according to some estimates.”  It looks very similar to this image of Saranaca elegans posted to BugGuide.  According to BugGuide, the larval food is the caterpillar of “Darapsa myron”, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx, and according to the Sphingidae of the Americas, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx is found in Arkansas.  We may be way off base with the species, but we are confident that we have at least gotten the family identification correct.

Ichneumon

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Subject: Tan flying bug
Location: Central New Jersey, United States
August 26, 2014 6:55 pm
The big just bit my wife. She is pregnant. Should I be concerened? It’s August (obviously) and hot out.
Signature: Mike

Ichneumon

Hi Mike,
This looks like a parasitic wasp known as an Ichneumon to us, and we believe she was stung, not bitten.  We don’t believe there is any cause for concern, but we are not medical professionals nor are we entomologists, so if you have any doubts, we would urge a visit to the doctor.

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Subject: What’s this bug?
Location: Spring Grove, Pa (south central PA)
September 24, 2014 5:25 pm
We found several of these in a pile of firewood in our backyard. They have bored many holes in the logs.
Signature: Michele

Stump Stabber

Hi Michele,
This Giant Ichneumon in the genus Megarhyssa is commonly called a Stump Stabber.  The female lays her eggs in wood that is infested with the wood boring larvae of Wood Wasps and the larval Stump Stabber parazitizes the larvae of the Wood Wasps.

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Subject: Insect Identification
Location: South East UK
October 20, 2014 10:54 am
Afternoon,
Found the attached against my curtains this evening
I literally have no idea what it is or what it could be and have been searching images for the last hour trying to find out
Wondering if you could let me know what it is and if it is native to the uk? i have never seen anything like this and i have lived here all my life (some 27 years)
Signature: Thank you in advance

Ichneumon

This is some species of Ichneumon, a member of a family of parasitic wasps.  Ichneumons prey upon many agricultural pests and most Ichneumons are very host specific, preying upon a single species or genus, though some prey upon entire families of insects and arthropods.  Ichnuemons are a highly diverse family with many members, and we cannot say for certain if you have a native species.  Ichneumons are sometimes introduced to prey upon other introduced pests.

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Subject: What is this???
Location: South Texas
October 22, 2014 10:42 pm
I see these bugs all over my door at night where I live. What is it?? Do they bite/sting? Help..
Signature: Hannah Gohlke

Ichneumon

Hi Hannah,
This is an Ichneumon, a member of a large and diverse family of parasitic wasps.  Most Ichneumons are harmless, but some are capable of stinging, and this does appear to be on of those Ichneumons that sting.

The post Ichneumon appeared first on What's That Bug?.

Subject: Gorgeous Giant Ichneumon Megarhyssa
Location: Jonesboro, AR, USA
November 19, 2014 6:29 pm
Hello!
I found this lovely lady on my back porch today. We have had freezing temperatures lately and though it reached almost 50 degrees, I think she was pretty frigid. She was pretty easy to scoop up in some Tupperware. After some research I discovered she was harmless and about this time she warmed enough to begin trying to use her ovipositor on my Tupperware. Obviously, she never succeeded, but a couple of times she even tried beginning ‘unzipping’ her abdomen to begin laying eggs. Alas, she couldn’t figure out how to bore into plastic though so eventually gave up. I hope she was able to finish the process outside in spite of the dropping temperatures. I have seen many Ichneumon in our area, but never her particular species. I couldn’t get a good shot of the ruler, but from antenna to ovipositor she was about 5 inches.
Signature: Heather Buckholtz

Stump Stabber in captivity

Dear Heather,
A female Giant Ichneumon or Stump Stabber is an fearsome looking, yet harmless parasitic wasp.  Other than Megarhyssa atrata, we are reluctant to attempt a species identification on members of the genus.

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Subject: What is it?
Location: Southwest Western Australia (Leschenault Inlet)
December 24, 2014 8:12 pm
Hi! I’m trying to determine what type of insect this is. At first glance it looks like a giant mosquito, but then I started researching and thought it could be a crane fly, or maybe a lacewing? No idea, but it’s driving me crazy not knowing!
Signature: Cath

Ichneumon

Hi Cath,
Mistaking this Ichneumon for a Crane Fly is understandable.  Ichneumons are parasitic wasp that comprise one of the largest families of creatures on our planet.  Ichneumons are considered to be harmless to humans, though some species are capable of stinging.

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Subject: Weird Red Flying Insect
Location: Mill Creek, WA, USA
February 8, 2015 11:12 pm
Hi! I saw this bug quite a while ago on the side of my house. I just learned about your website so I thought I’d send in my pic! I hope you can help!!
Signature: What?

Ichneumon

Dear What?,
This is an Ichneumon, a parasitic wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, which according to BugGuide has:  “About 5,000 described species in North America, possibly 3,000 more undescribed; arguably, the largest animal family, with the estimated 60,000 species worldwide (up to 100,000, according to some estimates).  Your individual looks very similar to this member of the genus Ophion from Idaho that is pictured on BugGuide.”

The post Ichneumon appeared first on What's That Bug?.

Subject: Random Washington bug… I guess
Location: Western Washington
March 10, 2015 9:38 pm
So sometime this last late fall/early winter was the first time I saw this bug. later it they started appearing whenever we would leave the door or a window open. My moms first reaction was to kill it so it took a while for me to even be able to catch one. when i caught the one in the photo I couldn’t get a clear photo of it. so i released it in the bathroom and took a few pictures of it then opened the window. when i looked back at the bug it was gone. i found it like a few mins later on the sink ether paralyzed or dead don’t really know which cause my mom found it before i could get another thing to hold it in and she killed it -_-
Signature: ~Devin

Ichneumon

Hi Devin,
This is a parasitic wasp known as an Ichneumon.  For many years we thought that Ichneumons were incapable of stinging humans, but we later learned that one particular group of Ichneumons in the genus Ophion can sting.  According to Nature.com:  “while Ophion is one of the few Ichneumonidæ which are known to sting, and while a small, narrow poison sac has been detected in a few species of that immense family, none has been recorded in Ophion luteus. But whereas the sting is followed in every instance by considerable inflammation and pain, such as would not be the effect of the mere stab of a needle, it seems almost certain that some irritant is injected into the wound, possibly for the purpose of paralysing the fly’s legitimate victim, as in the case of the hunting-wasps.”  According to BugGuide:  “They are often attracted to artificial lights.”  We believe your Ichneumon is in the genus Ophion.  We have tried unsuccessfully to convince folks that Crane Flies do NOT sting, and we believe they have been mistaking these Ichneumons for Crane Flies.

Ichneumon

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Subject: What is this bug?
Location: Georgetown KY
March 25, 2015 8:05 pm
My husband was stung by this bug. We have never seen one before. It is red and flies. What is it?
Signature: Diana

Short Tailed Ichneumon

Dear Diana,
This is an Ichneumon, a member of a family of parasitic wasps.  Most Ichneumons are perfectly harmless, though there is one genus, Ophion, that is reported to sting.  Your individual appears to be a member of the genus Ophion, the Short Tailed Ichneumons, which you can read more about on BugGuide.  We believe this is the insect that is mistaken for a stinging Crane Fly as Crane Flies do not sting.

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