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Giant Ichneumon Wasp

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted August 18, 2014321 views15 comments

I saw this wasp on a stump. I checked the ID on the web, it looks like a female giant ichneumon wasp (Megarhyssa macrurus).
It is a predatory insect, notable for its extremely long ovipositor. It uses this to deposit an egg into the tunnel bored by another species of wasp. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megarhyssa_macrurus)

Nikon D90, Nikkor 105mm, f/8, 1/60, ISO800, -0.3 EV, built-in flash, handheld, straightened, 85% of full frame. July 25, 2014 7:17PM, Montreal.

All comments are welcome and appreciated.

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Yun Gao on August 18, 2014 at 11:54 PM

Here is this wasp on the stump. She measures about 13 cm in length.

Registered on September 11, 2012, 267 Posts, 1621 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on August 19, 2014 at 2:28 AM

Yun

What a weird looking insect! - a first for me. It certainly has nice coloring and pattern. Good sharpness from head to tail (no mean feat for such a long creature). Like the plain gradient bg.

Registered on September 1, 2009, 588 Posts, 8184 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on August 19, 2014 at 10:17 AM

Whoa, this is fantastic. Nice clean shot with enough depth of field, great color, and a cool pose to boot!

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on August 19, 2014 at 11:13 AM

Remarkable design on the wasp - like it was hand painted. The first post, showing the ovipositing, is fantastic. Surprising to me that you got this close. Also, terrific detail, especially for hh.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Soubhik Patranabis on August 19, 2014 at 3:56 PM

Awesome shot and very nice details on the wasp, the larger version especially ..

Registered on January 25, 2010, 54 Posts, 610 Comments

Comment posted by Thomas Haney on August 19, 2014 at 4:48 PM

Awesome shot Yun! The background blur, lighting, and focus are all perfect. I had a great experience photographing one of these when I was young, and remember that she didn't budge no matter how close I got to her. If you get another chance to shoot one, try a head on view if you didn't already. With the one I photographed the ovipositors formed a figure eight above her head and made for a great image as well. Great job!

Registered on April 7, 2013, 138 Posts, 537 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on August 20, 2014 at 7:50 AM

I've seen these insects before, love the way they look. That extra long tail's cool too

Excellent details and a great POV, nice contrast to BG

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on August 22, 2014 at 11:30 AM

Hello Yun

Thanks for sharing this magnifcent wasp.

The colors and detail are excellent

Albert Darmo
Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on August 22, 2014 at 1:06 PM

What a wonderfully colorful wasp, Yun. It's also a fascinating pose. This is very well done.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on August 22, 2014 at 3:40 PM

great detail and color. I really like the pose and the pov.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Balan Vinod on August 25, 2014 at 12:27 PM

Yun...A delayed response from me. Away through August.

Love the way you have captured the insect with its long ovipositor. I remember reading somewhere that ..the tip of the ovipositor also has some metal in it ..

Balan Vinod

Registered on March 20, 2006, 889 Posts, 2312 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on August 30, 2014 at 4:47 PM

Fascinating look at an insect new to me. How colorful! A masterful shot, Yun. Congrats on the Pick!

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Yun Gao on August 30, 2014 at 10:57 PM

Thanks everyone for the great support and WP! I was lucky that day.

Registered on September 11, 2012, 267 Posts, 1621 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on August 31, 2014 at 3:41 PM

Very nice shot, Yun. I like the composition a lot. Great subject.

Very well done.
Congrats for the WP!

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on September 1, 2014 at 12:34 AM

Yun: Terrific capture. I hate wasps but love this image. Congrats on the WP.>=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments