Ichneumon Wasp

Red-orange insect with long abdomen, about 12mm in body length, excluding the antennae.

Ichneumonidae is a family within the insect order Hymenoptera. Insects in this family are called Ichneumon Wasps or Ichneumonids. Less exact terms are Ichneumon Flies (they are not closely related to true flies), or Scorpion Wasps due to the extreme lengthening and curving of the abdomen (scorpions are arachnids). Ichneumon wasps are important parasitoids of other insects. Ichneumon wasps differ from typical wasps by having more antennal segments; typically 16 or more, whereas the others have 13 or fewer. Female ichneumon wasps frequently exhibit an ovipositor longer than their body. Ovipositors and stingers are homologous structures. Males do not possess stingers or ovipositors.