Unidentfied flying insect, orange legs, can anyone help?

[Lee Mcc]

Originally Posted by kellie

Hello my son and I were amazed at the sight of a two inch long flying, buzzing insect with a black body shaped like a earwig, orange legs and a scorpion type upward sting at the rear. Could anyone give us an idea what we saw?

Hi Kellie,
I think that your insect is an Sirex Wood Wasp, I have just caught one myself. they are a pest and should be destroyed immediately, as the females will destroy all pine trees.

The male wasp has black legs. the females can lay from 25 - 450 eggs which take up to a year to hatch. These insects are native to north America and are spreading throughout Europe.

I hope this helps
Lee

[Lee Mcc]

Originally Posted by kellie

Hello my son and I were amazed at the sight of a two inch long flying, buzzing insect with a black body shaped like a earwig, orange legs and a scorpion type upward sting at the rear. Could anyone give us an idea what we saw?

This is a picture of a female Sirex woodwasp.

I hope this helps
LEE

[Lockzie]

Oh..... I think I have just had one of those in my kitchen!
I opened the window to get it out - I was too much of a girl to go anywhere near it!

Regards
Lockzie

[John_M]

Originally Posted by Lee Mcc

Hi Kellie,
I think that your insect is an Sirex Wood Wasp, I have just caught one myself. they are a pest and should be destroyed immediately, as the females will destroy all pine trees.

The male wasp has black legs. the females can lay from 25 - 450 eggs which take up to a year to hatch. These insects are native to north America and are spreading throughout Europe.

I hope this helps
Lee

They are native to Europe and Asia and are an invasive species in N America.

[greenfingers2010]

My dad found an insect as described here, wasp-like, long (about an inch) black body with long orange legs. It has a long upward facing sting and long wings. I have searched for images of scorpion flies, sirex woodwasp, ichneumon wasps but non appear to fit the identity of what we found in our greenhouse. Any other suggestions?

[Matt Smith]

Originally Posted by John_M

They are native to Europe and Asia and are an invasive species in N America.

ie There is no need to destroy them in this country, they are a native species and have their own suite of native predators and parasites to help that impact on their numbers.

[Dorissy]

IHi everyone! I too found a big scary black shiny orange-legged insect today on my jasmine...must admit i was a bit squeamish, but took its photo and have followed links on this forum. Am pretty sure mine is an ichneumon wasp, Pimpla Pedalis is the nearest indentifiable pic I can find. What I want to know is is it harmless, or do I have to spend tomorrow hunting it down and splatting it before it devours my deceased mum's precious jasmine and the rest of my garden??

[2dogs2000]

Originally Posted by Dorissy

IHi everyone! I too found a big scary black shiny orange-legged insect today on my jasmine...must admit i was a bit squeamish, but took its photo and have followed links on this forum. Am pretty sure mine is an ichneumon wasp, Pimpla Pedalis is the nearest indentifiable pic I can find. What I want to know is is it harmless, or do I have to spend tomorrow hunting it down and splatting it before it devours my deceased mum's precious jasmine and the rest of my garden??

Welcome to WAB. An ichneumon wasp is not going to devour your mum's precious jasmine or damage your garden. Here on WAB we care about all creatures. Well.. almost all.... don't like horseflies much

[John_M]

Originally Posted by Dorissy

IHi everyone! I too found a big scary black shiny orange-legged insect today on my jasmine...must admit i was a bit squeamish, but took its photo and have followed links on this forum. Am pretty sure mine is an ichneumon wasp, Pimpla Pedalis is the nearest indentifiable pic I can find. What I want to know is is it harmless, or do I have to spend tomorrow hunting it down and splatting it before it devours my deceased mum's precious jasmine and the rest of my garden??

If it's an ichneumon, then it's harmless to you and the jasmine, so you can spend your Sunday relaxing. They may look scary, but are nothing to worry about unless you happen to be a larva

[Christophenes]

Hi, does it look anything like the one in this pic? I think from what people are saying, this is an Ichneumon Wasp. I rescued this from a tub of water in the garden today. I have to say I am glad to hear they are harmless! :O)