A family gathering today produced a nice little bonus in the shape of this ovipositing female giant woodwasp (Urocerus gigas). They are quite common in the UK but this is the first I have had a good look at. The ovipositor is deep within the conifer log it was egg-laying into, you can just see the black base of it below the abdomen on this shot. I always thought the evil-looking tube sticking out the back was the ovipositor but this is just the sheath apparently!
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