Common name : Western giant ichneumon
Scientific name : Megarhyssa nortoni
Family : Ichneumonidae
Native to : Western North America
Interesting fact : The name ‘ichneumon’ is derived from
the ancient Greek word which means ‘track, footstep’.
36 mm in length, the female wasp is known to have an ovipositor which is 50-76 mm in length. They prefer to reside in the coniferous trees in Western North America, though they have been introduced to the other parts of the world. Its diet is comprised of nectar and water, and these wasps are harmless to humans in spite of their appearance. The female deposits her eggs in the coniferous barks where the larvae may reside. Once the eggs hatch, they feed on the larvae of the horntail wasp.
