Ichneumon Wasps
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Physically, many are long, thin-waisted wasps, often with a red and black or yellow and black color combination on the throax and abdomen.
Females are further classified as having an extended ovipositor. It's utility is derived from the wasp's parasitic reproductive strategy.
Ichnumon attack potential insect hosts such as caterpillars, and paralyse them prior to depositing their eggs. When the young are born they feed on the host.
There are literally thousands of different species of Ichneumon in the United States, making identification of any one species difficult.
While they may look menacing, most ichneumon wasps are not known to sting, and males have no stinger.
© 2006 Patricia A. Michaels.