Megarhyssa atrata

Megarhyssa atrata
Megarhyssa atrata female
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Ichneumonidae
Subfamily:	Rhyssinae
Genus:	Megarhyssa
Species:	M. atrata
Binomial name
Megarhyssa atrata (Fabricius, 1781)
Synonyms
Ichneumon atratusFabricius, 1781

Megarhyssa atrata, also known as the black giant ichneumonid wasp, is a species of large ichneumon wasp. It is known from North America, ^[1] where it is found from Quebec, Michigan, Ohio, Connecticut, and North and South Carolina to Florida. ^[2]

Adults are on wing from May to July.^{[ citation needed ]}

Behavior

The larvae are parasitoids of the larvae of the woodwasp Tremex columba in dead deciduous trees. ^[3]

Female M. atrata burrow into wood with their ovipositor while secreting a substance that breaks down the wood. ^[4]

References

1. Megarhyssa atrata at www.insectimages.org.
2. "Bug Guide". Bug Guide. Retrieved 2012-01-17.
3. Pook, Victoria; Sharkey, Michael; Wahl, David (2016-01-04). "Key to the species of Megarhyssa (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Rhyssinae) in America, north of Mexico". Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift. 63 (1): 137–148. doi: 10.3897/dez.63.7619 . ISSN   1860-1324.
4. Le Lannic, Joseph; Nénon, J.-P. (1999-10-01). "Functional morphology of the ovipositor in Megarhyssa atrata (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) and its penetration into wood". Zoomorphology. 119 (2): 73–79. doi:10.1007/s004350050082. ISSN   1432-234X.