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Mystery Bug
I have taken pictures of this bug now for the last two years but it has been coming to a tree in my yard for the last four years and around the same time each year. The pictures I have are from 2006 and 2007 in early to late June. The first three years there was only one of these bugs. In 2007 there was family. I hope you can let me know what kind of insect this is. Thanks,
Bryan Soukup

Hi Bryan,
The group photo you have submitted shows a group of Giant Ichneumons, Megarhyssa atrata, in the process of laying eggs and probably mating. The female has the long stinger-like ovipositor that she uses to lay eggs in the wood. The food for the larvae are wood boring grubs. The males are smaller and do not possess the ovipositor. The single image is of a female. The Giant Ichneumons will not sting you as they are incabable. We wish your group photo had been closer. Perhaps this year you can get us a nice close-up of the males and females together.

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