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Project Noah Nature School
Megarhyssa macrurus
There were three female wasps (?) clinging to the bark of a pine tree. The largest one was perched above the other two, and she did not have her ovipositor inserted into the bark. She, and another one flew off, leaving behind the final one that continued to insert her eggs. When she had finished, she retracted her ovipositor, and cleaned it thoroughly with her back legs.
Amazing find! These wasps parasitizes Tremex columba larvae, the Pigeon Tremex, which happens to be another type of wasp. The larvae are quite large and live in the wood of the trees.
Here is some info on the Pigeon Tremex: http://bugguide.net/node/view/36832
Spotted on Jun 13, 2014
Submitted on Jun 14, 2014
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