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 and North and South Carolina to Florida.[2]
| Megarhyssa atrata | |
|---|---|
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| Megarhyssa atrata female | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Ichneumonidae |
| Subfamily: | Rhyssinae |
| Genus: | Megarhyssa |
| Species: | M. atrata
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| Binomial name | |
| Megarhyssa atrata (Fabricius, 1781)
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| Synonyms | |
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Adults are on wing from May to July.[citation needed]
Behavior
editThe 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
edit- ^ Megarhyssa atrata at www.insectimages.org.
- ^ "Bug Guide". Bug Guide. Retrieved 2012-01-17.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
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