ID please

Can somebody tell me what this is exactly?

Thank you in advance.

Alison

Phil would be the man, best i can say is an ichneumon wasp? Couldnt tell you the species.

Hi Alison, I think it's this - Great Black Wasp -- Sphex pennsylvanicus

Do a search on the above using Google Images to see if it is the same species

Nice clear shot showing nice detail

Thanks to both of you, off to do a search now.

Alison

Hi,

Its very difficult ti ID there are so many... it is certainly a Wasp sp. possibly black wood boring wasp, I'm not close to a copy of Chinnery at the moment but suspect that the ID from there would be one of many. Often the only ID features are the reproductive organs...

Sorry I can't be more definate here....

Tis a good shot BTW.



Phil

Oh well, thanks anyway Phil. I did do a google search and discovered that there are so many different ones that it would be impossible for me to identify it. Saw another one today but it had reddish colour legs, another had a couple of white markings on it as well and with black legs like this one.

There was another beauty that had a bright yellow band and the little so and so wouldn't stay still for me to photograph it! lol!

Are these types of wasps usually stingers do you know or does it depend on the exact type?

Thanks again
Alison

Hi,

Yes I'm afraid that is one of the problems with these Hymenoptera sp.... too many of them. They are parasitic wasps, or more correctly parasitoids, they do not sting like the Vespa sp. wasps...

All the best

Phil

If they don't sting, they are welcome! lol! The only wasps I don't like are the ones that sting, not been stung for years but remember how painful it was when I was a youngster, always screamed and cried and would probably react the same now, I'm such a baby! lol!

Alison