Ichneumon Wasps
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Physically, many are long, thin-waisted wasps, often having a red and black or yellow and black color combination on the thorax and abdomen.
Unlike other wasp species, the abdomen tends to be on the long and thin side.
Females are further classified as having an extended ovipositor (not show in the picture), whose utility is derived from the wasp's parasitic reproductive strategy.
Like other wasps listed on the right, such as cricket hunters and Ammophila, Ichneumon 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.