Greene's Giant Ichneumonid Wasp

Females are distinguished from those of M. macrurus by having the forewing clear (unpigmented) along the basal vein (such that a single black spot is present) and by the shorter ovipositor length (the shortest in all US species of Megarhyssa ). In live specimens, this is only about 1.5x the body length (1.8x forewing length). Those of M. greenei also have a more extensively yellow face, lacking vertical lineations. Males are noted by their entirely clear wings, red and yellow mesopleuron , and red hind femur. Specimens from the southeastern US are highly variable in terms of yellow markings. Townes described two subspecies, but Carlson found that the extent of geographic variation is not conducive to the recognition of subspecies. BugGuide records have also revealed a third color form from this area that wasn't treated under Townes' subspecies divisions. widespread eastern US, formerly M. g. greenei : red with minor yellow markings on the thorax, paired lines on the mesoscutum, and narrow chevrons on the abdomen; wings hyaline with a single spot of dark pigmentation Florida (with intermediates in South Carolina and Alabama, photo #2), formerly M. g. floridana : yellow markings more restricted on the mesoscutum and abdomen; wings almost uniformly dark Georgia, North Carolina and Maryland, no separate name: yellow markings more extensive on the thorax, abdominal markings developed into spots; wings hyaline with a single spot of dark pigmentation