My daughter and I were lucky enough make some observations about a female ichneumon wasp as we walked through a local Portland, Oregon park. It began by tapping its sensitive antennae to detect a host beneath the surface. When it determined that a suitable host insect was below, it pushed its long, flexible and strong stinger-like ovipositor into the ground. (This same appendage is used by other wasps and bees to sting. Many ichneumons lack venom, though they can still poke their predators in defense.) This egg will hatch and her baby wasp larva will feed on the host until the grub-like wasp grows to a point that it is itself ready to pupate. It will emerge as an adult to repeat the life cycle.

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