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Keywords

macro
insect
close-up
wasp
giant
Quebec
Ichneumon
Megarhyssa


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Giant ichneumon megarhyssa-Aug 2017 DSC 2219

Giant ichneumon megarhyssa-Aug 2017 DSC 2219
The female Giant Ichneumon wasp, Megarhyssa macrurus, possesses an ovipositor several times her own length with which she drills into the side of diseased trees to lay an egg on the larva of another wasp, the pigeon horntail. The horntail prey larva is killed, and after hatching the ichneumon larva feeds upon it. The ovipositor is composed of a central delivery shaft through which the egg passes, and two outer sheaths that protect and stiffen the central “hypodermic needle”. At the beginning and end of the drilling process the last segments of the tail split apart and a flexible membrane is inflated between them, (see the other photo) and in ways not clear, at least to me, this assists in the manipulation of the ovipositer as it enters and leaves the wood. Before the drilling begins the wasp walks methodically up and down the tree, “feeling” with her antenna to sense the presence of the host larva buried below the surface.

Luc Reiniche, Dave C, Nora Caracci have particularly liked this photo


Comments
 Nora Caracci
Nora Caracci club
superb series !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
P'TITES BEBÊTES EN MACRO.
7 years ago.
 Dave C
Dave C club
Outstanding image.
6 years ago.

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