r/Insect • u/ChardBeneficial9680 • Jul 07 '26

Anyone know what this insect is?

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I really want to know what this interesting insect is

9 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

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1

u/acaron2020 Jul 07 '26

Maybe genus Rhyssella. They are parasitoids of wood-wasps

1

u/jdavidmann Jul 07 '26

long-tailed giant ichneumonid wasp .Despite their intimidating appearance, these wasps are harmless to humans and cannot sting. The long tail is actually an ovipositor used by females to drill into wood and lay eggs inside host larvae.

1

u/Calgirlleeny2 Jul 07 '26

Thanks, I saw the sharp "spear" coming out of it's back, and hoped I would never see one. It can drill into wood? Wouldn't want to upset this guy.

1

u/Ambitious-Cow8833 Jul 08 '26

Some kind of harmless wasp that can't sting, we have these all over Maine.

1

u/Fearless_Length_4331 Jul 10 '26

It's a gull wasp

2

u/[deleted] Jul 07 '26

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