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larose forest photos | all galleries >> INSECTS (INSECTA) (28 Galleries) >> Bees, Wasps, Sawflies and Ants (Hymenoptera) (22 Sub-galleries) >> Pelecinid wasps (Family: Pelicinidae) > Pelecinid wasp, female (Pelecinus polyturator)
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10-AUG-2017 Christine Hanrahan

Pelecinid wasp, female (Pelecinus polyturator)

At home

This is a female Pelecinid wasp, and NO, that is not a stinger! It is her long abdomen which is used to lay eggs, and the way she does this is pretty interesting. Especially if you are a gardener with a grub problem. She uses that abdomen to probe into the soil and when she feels a grub, she lays an egg, and does this over and over, one egg per grub. The eggs hatch and the larvae parasitize the grubs, killing them. The adults, the wasps,do no damage whatsoever to anything or anyone. Indeed, they are very beneficial insects, so next time you see one of these, instead of fearing them, welcome them!

Panasonic LUMIX FZ200
1/60s f/2.8 at 4.5mm iso320 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Mieke WA Minkjan19-Aug-2017 11:37
superb V
Dennis Hoyne18-Aug-2017 02:39
I thought a stinger also, it does look fearsome. A fine shot! V
John Vass18-Aug-2017 01:45
This is a great capture! Thanks for explaining what is going on when one sees one! I hope your works have people looking closer. I know I am! V
Pierre Martin18-Aug-2017 01:35
have seen twice, they are beautiful such has this picture!
Ghislaine et Réal Boulet18-Aug-2017 01:21
Beautiful macro.
LynnH18-Aug-2017 00:33
A very nice clear close-up. At first, I thought - stinger! V
Carl H. Johnson18-Aug-2017 00:29
The first thing I thought, this was a stinger like a scorpion, all this time, I've been wasting my money on GrubEx !!!~V~
Hank Vander Velde18-Aug-2017 00:04
Fantastic image of this unique wasp Christine. Great info too. I could have used a lot of these for my grub problem last summer.
Terry Sprague17-Aug-2017 23:16
Awesome capture! We need more of these beneficial bugs! V
hayl17-Aug-2017 23:00
What an amazing photo - and info. Nature will always surprise you.
Carl Carbone17-Aug-2017 22:47
Such a cool insect! Great find and capture!
Stephanie17-Aug-2017 21:35
That's one heck of a bootie on that wasp! Interesting information and fantastic photo! V
jeanb17-Aug-2017 21:26
Wow. Superb capture. I would have thought that was a rear-end to be avoided!
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