What kind of wasp is this?

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marie_kap Williamstown, NJ(Zone 6b) Aug 31, 2010

I am not sure if it is a wasp or what. It looked like it had a stinger inserted into the tree. It was about 2 to 3 inches long and 2 inches high.

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Aug 31, 2010

This is an ichneumon wasp (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) in the genus Megarhyssa; likely Megarhyssa atrata - see http://tinyurl.com/293yap4 for an image. She is boring into the tree so that she can lay her egg in the burrow of her intended prey, a larva of a wood wasp in the family Siricidae. These wasps lack venom and are harmless to humans.

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marie_kap Williamstown, NJ(Zone 6b) Sep 01, 2010

After reading up on these wasp's. If I am understanding it right they are laying their eggs in the spot of a tree grub, and that larve eats the tree grub. So is she helping my tree are helping to kill it. I Am thinking of taking this tree down due to the fact that I believe it has a deseased. The bark is coming off on on side at the lower half.

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