n3m37hOntarrible Canada, what bug is this?
Looks like a flying ant. They come out seasonably in various parts of the world, mostly after rains. I didn’t know Ontario had ‘em (unless I’m mistaken).
It should have a sweet sickly smell associated with it.
BagsI think it looks like some kind of parasitic wasp, based on the long rear tubule thing (used for injecting eggs into the host) and the generally wasp-like body shape.
Don’t worry, it doesn’t parasitize humans.
PlaidBaronI will refrain from making an Ontario joke involving parastic wasps. But damn, its difficult not to.
I agree. The long ovipositor allows them to get under the bark and lay their eggs onto beetle larvae living there.
talDon’t worry, it doesn’t sting or parasitize humans.
I can believe that one could know that there are no wasps that parasitize humans in that region, but how can you know that it doesn’t sting humans without knowing the type of wasp involved?
Jerb322Okay, I’m no wasp expert, but that sounds plausible.
kagis
…but it sounds like at least some parasitic wasps do sting humans, even if their sting isn’t a big deal.
https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/ichneumonid-wasp
- Megarhyssa is a large wasp found on declining or recently dead hardwood trees between May and July.
- It parasitizes horntails present in declining trees, but does not injure trees.
- Harmless to people and ignores people when possible.
- If mishandled, it may sting to protect itself.
*Although ichneumonid wasps appear dangerous due to their large size, they are not harmful to people.
- The wasp may jab with its ovipositor in self-defense. This will generally result only in a minor wound.
And that thing looks like it’s got a larger ovipositor than the one the wasp has in the picture.
thagoat