Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
Double Stingers? WC 610
‹ PreviousWeekly Challenge GalleryNext ›

Double Stingers? WC 610

by Wayne Jones

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted November 11, 201369 views5 comments
I know that horntail wasps can't sting, but for some reason, I avoid handling them. Horntails are in the order Hymenoptera (wasps, bees, ants, etc.); family Siricidae. This one is Urocerus-albicornis. Even though they are not stingers, those two large terminal appendages LOOK dangerous! They bore into trees to lay eggs with the long ovipisitor sheathed in the long, straight part, but it's kind of a slow process. Many female horntails are quite large, too; another reason that they tend to freak people out.

Canon 5D3 with Sigma 150 Macro

Comments

5 comments
Comment posted by Randy Runtsch on November 11, 2013 at 9:26 PM
Wayne, this is a nice photo of a scary-looking specimen. It's good to know that they don't sting. I especially like the deep blue color in the wings.
Registered on October 30, 2013, 50 Posts, 445 Comments
Comment posted by Carolyn Derstine on November 12, 2013 at 9:30 PM
Well-focused and nicely composed shot, Wayne. It's great to be able to see this bug so closely in a picture. . .but they do look threatening so I would also take a "pass" on actually handling them. :rolleyes:
Registered on February 16, 2011, 610 Posts, 3684 Comments
Comment posted by Lucy VanSwearingen on November 13, 2013 at 12:22 AM
Great shot. He does look dangerous! I now know, that he's not...but I hope one never gets caught in my hair! As a child, I had a wasp caught in my ponytail. I got away unscathed, but definitely shaken! :jump:
Registered on May 23, 2009, 800 Posts, 2042 Comments
Comment posted by Ed Williams on November 13, 2013 at 1:25 AM
Wow Wayne! Very nice focus and color. Neat insect too.
Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on November 13, 2013 at 9:24 PM
Excellent details and an interesting species, like the iridescent blue sheen of the wings.
Great exposure of a difficult subject, I especially like the dangerous look with the two appendages..
Fits the theme well! :toast:
Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments