Today's interesting winged visitor

[Scott Farris]

These may be more common in other areas but I believe this is the first I've seen. So this AM I look out the window and see this on the wall.

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First thought is it's a giant Mayfly with that tail. But no its a wasp:

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So how long is it? Well the body is 1" but overall, antenna to tail is a good 6"+.

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side:

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Tight shot:

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Apparently its Ichneumon Wasp and it uses it's long tail to lay her eggs deep in wood so her larva can eat the grubs of other insects. I have been having carpenter bee issues, I hope she clears them out for me.

Neat new thing for a rainy holiday morning.

Scott

 

[jeff minnick]

looks like a tracking antenna

 

[David L]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLvuevf__Ok





http://www.cirrusimage.com/hymenoptera_ichneumon_megarhyssa_fem.htm

 

[Howard]

Now that is a full growed man!!

 

[Carl]

The long tail is for depositing alien larvea into human victims, i'd watch the other member of the family closely if I were you.