ichneumonid sp.

There are an estimated 100,000 species in the ichneumonid wasp family, making it one of the largest families in the insect world. These wasps are parasitoids, and adult females use their long “stingers” ovipositors to bore into plants or wood where they lay eggs on, inside, or near host insects. The eggs hatch and the larvae feed on the hosts.

Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Ichneumonidae

Photograph: © 2020 RKD Peterson
Date of Photograph: 07 August 2020
Location: Montana, Gallatin Co. (45^o20'53" N 111^o10'31" W)