Veeloxxy Bites: #InsertAnInvert2024 These wasps are METAL - literally, their ovipositor contains manganese academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/a... And it is structured so it can withstand high penetration force. www.science.org/doi/full/10.... PSA to wood wasps - don't be caught slacking when this ichneumon comes knocking

#InsertAnInvert2024 These wasps are METAL - literally, their ovipositor contains manganese academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/a... And it is structured so it can withstand high penetration force. www.science.org/doi/full/10.... PSA to wood wasps - don't be caught slacking when this ichneumon comes knocking

The critter for this week's #InsertAnInvert2024 is the giant ichneumon wasp Megarhyssa macrurus en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megarhy... They use their alarming long ovipositor to drill through solid wood in order to reach their host - the larvae of Tremex wood wasps - so their babies can devour it alive

Megarhyssa macrurus - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

do you remember why we picked this species over other ichneumonids? my memory is hazy at this point

I think it's because it's big and impressive, it's very eye catching, especially with its long ovipositor

oh i think also because Gil's blog post is one of the top results when i looked it up gilwizen.com/megarhyssa/

Nailing that Megarhyssa shot - it's all about flexibility - Gil Wizengilwizen.com Learning about one's flexibility while photographing the giant ichneumon wasp, Megarhyssa macrurus.

Yeah probably

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