Giant Wood Wasp

[alfbranch]

This a close up not a macro shot as this was 40mm long


Edit (from wildlife trust)
The Horntail is also known as the 'Giant Wood Wasp' or 'Greater Horntail' and is a massive sawfly. A relative of the wasps, the female is black and yellow and has a long 'sting'; this is actually her ovipositor through which she lays her eggs into wood, especially pine. The larvae live in the wood of pine trees, where they spend up to five years developing. Found near pine woods, or places where pine timbers are used.

Giant-Wood-Wasp by alf.branch, on Flickr

 

[susiejb]

Crumbs that's huge... a super shot Alf...I 'm definitely getting outside with the macro lens this week...so many brilliant shots on here lately, very inspiring. If I take about 500 I may get one good one

 

[Graham]

Wow that is BIG, shame you didnt want to get closer tho, its only a wasp.
Love the yelllow eyes (i think) on this wasp, fantasic

 

[orionmystery]

Nice shot of this cool looking wasp.

 

[alfbranch]

Crumbs that's huge... a super shot Alf...I 'm definitely getting outside with the macro lens this week...so many brilliant shots on here lately, very inspiring. If I take about 500 I may get one good one

Thanks Susie
You have to get out and practice so keep at it while the weather is Ok

Wow that is BIG, shame you didnt want to get closer tho, its only a wasp.
Love the yelllow eyes (i think) on this wasp, fantasic

Thanks Graham the yellow thing is not its eye the eyes are black.
They are harmless but I didnt get much time to get closer to her she was egg laying and I had other people around and I had to change lens and fit my flash and diffuser too.

Nice shot of this cool looking wasp.

Thanks Kurt

This despite its name is not a wasp but it is a sawfly. They are also know as greater horntails (Urocerus gigas) and are harmless.

 

[alfbranch]

Here she is using her ovipositor maybe not as well shot

Giant-Wood-Wasp-ovipositing by alf.branch, on Flickr

 

[Tintin124]

What a wonderful looking beast.... would freak me out a little as the Ichneumon does as it buzzes past you head normally.

 

[IanClark]

Awesome wasp. Lovely shots. Must hunt for one

 

[alfbranch]

Awesome wasp. Lovely shots. Must hunt for one

You need to look around pine woods apparently. As I said it is not a wasp really but a sawfly.

What a wonderful looking beast.... would freak me out a little as the Ichneumon does as it buzzes past you head normally.

Bryn
It is big but harmless.

 

[TimmyG]

What a stunner! I really want to find one of these now. Where's my nearest pine wood?

 

[LCPete]

Amazing creature I thought that the yellow part on it's head was its eye until I read your post
excellent shot

 

[alfbranch]

What a stunner! I really want to find one of these now. Where's my nearest pine wood?

Amazing creature I thought that the yellow part on it's head was its eye until I read your post
excellent shot

Thanks Tim and Pete

 

[Carlh]

thats a big bugger! great shot alf

 

[alfbranch]

thats a big bugger! great shot alf

Thanks Carl it was big.

 

[seventythree]

Excellent shot. I've seen two so far in 40 years. I didn't know they were harmless. "Wood wasp" implies otherwise. They are huge compared to any other flying insect in ne scotland.

Zeppelins with wings!

 

[alfbranch]

Excellent shot. I've seen two so far in 40 years. I didn't know they were harmless. "Wood wasp" implies otherwise. They are huge compared to any other flying insect in ne scotland.

Zeppelins with wings!

A Zeppelin with wings is about right.

 

[mattd85]

So cool

 

[M.A.G]

wow 40mm , It is big isn't it . I have never seen one before .

 

[alfbranch]

So cool

Was amazing to see

wow 40mm , It is big isn't it . I have never seen one before .

I think I may have seen one before.

 

[steunited]

my children found one at centreparcs whinfell the other week and they are massive