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Javelin Wasp

G⁠asteruption jaculator

Photo by arne.roysland
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

In the female the ovipositor is very long with a white tip. Characteristics of the wasp is that the hind legs are swollen and that the hind body is attached unusually high on the thorax. The abdomen is strongly stretched and broader at the posterior end. The colour of the wasp is black, with reddish color rings in the middle of the abdomen.

Habitat:

Forest edge on a Canadian goldenrod.

Notes:

Norwegian name: Krageveps

Reference Links:

Javelin Wasp (Gasteruption jaculator) · iNaturalist

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (2)
arne.roysland
Thanks John for the comment. I have seen this wasp a few times before and am most surprised why the length of the ovipositor must be as long as the rest of the body. The female body length varies between 10 – 16 mm. Ovipositor length varies between 7 – 16 mm.
John B.
Great spotting, Arne. I have never seen a wasp quite like this one. Everything about it seems to be exaggerated. Wikipedia comments on the unusual "neck" and when I looked up the English translation of the Norwegian "Krage" in "Krageveps", it seems to mean "collar". So, (assuming I got the correct translation) that would make sense. I really like the Norwegian names, they're often better than the English common names.

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Hymenoptera of the world -- bees, ants and all their friends
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PublishedSeptember 15, 2023

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