Subject: Insect information
Location: Baja California
March 30, 2017 9:44 pm
Found this in sanfelipe Baja mexico, after I woke up with a bite on my are that swelled quickly. Wondering if it could be the cause.
Signature: Josh gordon
Dear Josh,
If this is the culprit, you were stung and not bitten. This looks like a Short-Tailed Ichneumon, possibly in the genus Ophion. Most Ichneumons are harmless, but members of the genus Ophion are capable of stinging. According to BugGuide: “Adult Ophion species will hunt for their host caterpillar. Usually one egg is laid per host. Caterpillar usually dies during pupal stage though wasp larva remains to pupate itself.”
Update: September 27, 2019
Based on a comment we just received that needs considerable research, we are no longer categorizing this an an Ichneumon.