Bug Identifier
Ichneumon Wasp
Community identification

Ichneumon Wasp

Ichneumonidae (General Family)

Order & Family
Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae
Size
3mm to 40mm depending on the species (not including the ovipositor).
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found globally in many types of environments including forests, gardens, and wetlands where host insects are present.

Diet & Feeding

Adults usually feed on nectar or water; larvae are parasitoids of other insects like caterpillars or beetle larvae.

Behavior Patterns

They are solitary insects. Females use long ovipositors to lay eggs inside or near a host insect. They do not have a hive or queen.

Risks & Benefits

Highly beneficial to the ecosystem as they control pest populations. Most species cannot sting humans; those that can are not aggressive and have very mild venom.