What's the biggest wasp?
Wasp
Wasps first appeared in the fossil record in the Jurassic, and diversified into many surviving superfamilies by the Cretaceous. They are a successful and diverse group of insects with tens of thousands of described species; wasps have spread to all parts of the world except for the polar regions. The largest social wasp is the Asian giant hornet, at up to in length; among the largest solitary wasps is a group of species known as tarantula hawks, along with the giant scoliid of Indonesia ("Megascolia procer"). The smallest wasps are solitary chalcid wasps in the family Mymaridae, including the world's smallest known insect, with a body length of only , and the smallest known flying insect, only long.
Wasp (comics)
In May 2011, the Wasp placed 99th on IGN's Top 100 Comic Book Heroes of All Time, and 26th in their list of "The Top 50 Avengers" in 2012. In 2013, she was ranked the fifth greatest Avenger of all time by Marvel.com.
Sphecius grandis
"Sphecius grandis" wasps frequently interact with humans because of their tendency to make their nests in backyards, gardens and sidewalks. Pest control is mostly unneeded as they nest in areas with little to no vegetation, usually ignore people, and females are not aggressive, tending to save their venom for their cicada prey, but will sting if they are grabbed or stepped on. Despite their large size, being the largest wasp to inhabit California, their sting has been reported as being between merely numbing and sharp to moderate. Males, while smaller, are naturally more aggressive and less tolerant of disturbance.
Dwarf killer whale
Type A is the most common known killer whale with a large black and white body with a medium-sized white eye patch. This killer whale is located in Antarctic open waters while preying upon Antarctic minke whales ("Balaenoptera honaerensis)." They follow the migration patterns of the minke whales in and out of Antarctic waters. Type A comprise the largest orcas, reaching up to about 9.5 meters long in body length.
Mammoth wasp
The mammoth wasp resembles a very large, elongated bumble bee. The female is larger than the male and has a yellow head, the male has a black head. Its body is covered in downy hair and is glossy black in colour with two yellow bands across its abdomen which are sometimes divided to form four yellow spots. Females have shorter antennae than males. The female also has large mandibles which are used to manipulate the prey.
Parischnogaster jacobsoni
Parischnogaster jacobsoni is a species of social wasp within "Parischnogaster", the largest and least known genus of Stenogastrinae. It is distinguished mainly by its tendency to construct ant guards on its nests. Natural selection has led this wasp to have a thick substance emitted from its abdominal glands that allows it to protect its nest from invasions. "Parischnogaster" as a genus has been relatively unstudied; "P. jacobsoni" is one of the few investigated species because it has sufficient durability to live near human populations and it has demonstrated unusual resilience to pollution. While "P. jacobsoni" is a more complex organism than other wasps in "Parischnogaster", the genus overall is relatively primitive with respect to social wasps as a whole.
Wolf spider
"Hogna" is the genus with the largest of the wolf spiders. Among the "Hogna" species in the U.S., the nearly solid dark brown "H. carolinensis" (Carolina wolf spider) is the largest, with a body that can be more than long. It is sometimes confused with "H. helluo", which is somewhat smaller and different in coloration. The underside of "H. carolinensis" is solid black, but the underside of "H. helluo" is variegated and has reds, oranges, and yellows with shades of black.
Polistes carnifex
Polistes carnifex, also known as the executioner wasp, is a neotropical vespid wasp in the cosmopolitan genus "Polistes" and has been noted as having the most painful sting out of all discovered insect species. The wasp is native to Central and South America. It is a very large yellow and brown paper wasp that establishes small colonies which build nests under the eaves of buildings or suspended from branches. The colonies are often founded by solitary queens, many times in the form of winter aggregations to wait until environmental conditions are more suitable for building a colony. Not all nests have a female with developed ovaries. Foraging adults bring nectar and caterpillars back to the nest to feed to the developing larvae which are individually housed in separate cells in the nest. adaptations include mandibles and teeth. Worker-queen conflict, worker policing, and dominance interactions all come into play for the species. and has not been observed to be parasitized. These species tend to live from 6 months to 18 months, making it the longest-living wasp known to date.
Wasp
"Wasp" (1957) is a science fiction book by the English writer Eric Frank Russell; it is generally considered Russell's best novel. In Stieg Larsson's book "The Girl Who Played with Fire" (2006) and its film adaptation, Lisbeth Salander has adopted her kickboxing ringname, "The Wasp", as her hacker handle and has a wasp tattoo on her neck, indicating her high status among hackers, unlike her real world situation, and that like a small but painfully stinging wasp, she could be dangerous.
Spider wasp
Spider wasps are solitary wasps that use a single spider as a host for feeding their larvae. They paralyze the spider with a venomous stinger. Once paralyzed, the spider is dragged to where a nest will be builtsome wasps having already made a nest. A single egg is laid on the abdomen of the spider, and the nest or burrow is closed. Spider wasps protect their nests by putting dead ants into the outermost chamber, the chemicals within deterring predators.
The size of the host can influence whether the wasp's egg will develop as a male or a female; larger prey yield the (larger) females. A complex set of adult behaviors can then occur, such as spreading soil or inspecting the area, leaving the nest site inconspicuous. When the wasp larva hatches, it begins to feed on the still-living spider. After consuming the edible parts of the spider, the larva spins a silk cocoon and pupates, usually emerging as an adult the next summer. Some ceropalines lay the egg on a still-active spider, where it feeds externally on hemolymph. In time, that spider will die, and the mature wasp larva will then pupate.
Dinotrema
Dinotrema is a genus of wasps in the family Braconidae. Species are amongst the largest parasitoid wasps in the tribe Alysiini (Alysiinae). There are approximately 350 species described around worldwide.
Mammoth wasp
The mammoth wasp, Megascolia maculata, is a very large wasp (the largest in Europe), with the female reaching up to , whereas the male is smaller. The species can be seen in warm weather, from May to September.
Ropalidia fasciata
"Ropalidia fasciata" belongs to one of the largest wasp taxa. Roughly 180 other species belong to the genus "Ropalidia". In discussion, "R. fasciata" is often grouped with and compared to "Ropalidia marginata". "R. fasciata" was classified by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1804.
Largest organisms
Both the largest mollusks and the largest of all invertebrates (in terms of mass) are the largest squids. The colossal squid ("Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni") is projected to be the largest invertebrate. Current estimates put its maximum size at long and , based on analysis of smaller specimens. In 2007, authorities in New Zealand announced the capture of the largest known colossal squid specimen. It was initially thought to be and . It was later measured at long and in weight. The mantle was long when measured.
Largest organisms
The lion's mane jellyfish ("Cyanea capillata") is the largest cnidaria species, of the class Scyphozoa. The largest known specimen of this giant, found washed up on the shore of Massachusetts Bay in 1870, had a bell diameter of , a weight of . The tentacles of this specimens were as long as and were projected to have a tentacular spread of about making it one of the longest extant animals.
The largest roundworm, "Placentonema gigantissima", is a parasite found in the placentas of sperm whales which can reach up to in length.
Siale Piutau
Wasps
Bee
Behaviourally, one of the most obvious characteristics of bees is that they collect pollen to provide provisions for their young, and have the necessary adaptations to do this. However, certain wasp species such as pollen wasps have similar behaviours, and a few species of bee scavenge from carcases to feed their offspring. The world's largest species of bee is thought to be the Indonesian resin bee "Megachile pluto", whose females can attain a length of . The smallest species may be dwarf stingless bees in the tribe Meliponini whose workers are less than in length.
A bee has a pair of large compound eyes which cover much of the surface of the head. Between and above these are three small simple eyes (ocelli) which provide information for the bee on light intensity. The antennae usually have thirteen segments in males and twelve in females and are geniculate, having an elbow joint part way along. They house large numbers of sense organs that can detect touch (mechanoreceptors), smell and taste, and small, hairlike mechanoreceptors that can detect air movement so as to "hear" sounds. The mouthparts are adapted for both chewing and sucking by having both a pair of mandibles and a long proboscis for sucking up nectar.
Amethystine python
The amethystine python ("Morelia amethistina"), also known as the scrub python or sanca permata locally, is a nonvenomous species of snake found in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. Popular among reptile enthusiasts, and noted for its coloration and size, it is one of the six largest snakes in the world, as measured either by length or weight, and is the largest native snake in Australia and Papua New Guinea. Currently, four subspecies of the nominate race, "M. a. amethystina", are generally recognized. The Mollucan Islands, including Halmahera, Ternate, and Tidore, are home to "M. a. tracyei". The Tanimbar Islands are home to a smaller subspecies, "M. a. nauta". On the island of Seram, "M. a. clastolepis" can be found, and mainland PNG (including the Indonesian western half, once called Irian Jaya—now West Papua) and many of its near offshore islands, "M. a. amethystina" is quite common. In Australia, "M. a. kinghorni" is represented.
Harpy eagle
The harpy eagle ("Harpia harpyja") is a neotropical species of eagle. It is also called the American harpy eagle to distinguish it from the Papuan eagle, which is sometimes known as the New Guinea harpy eagle or Papuan harpy eagle. It is the largest and most powerful raptor found in the rainforest, and among the largest extant species of eagles in the world. It usually inhabits tropical lowland rainforests in the upper (emergent) canopy layer. Destruction of its natural habitat has caused it to vanish from many parts of its former range, and it is nearly extirpated in Central America. In Brazil, the harpy eagle is also known as royal-hawk (in ).
Largest organisms
The largest arthropod known to have existed is the eurypterid (sea scorpion) "Jaekelopterus", reaching up to in body length, followed by the millipede relative "Arthropleura" at around in length. Among living arthropods, the Japanese spider crab ("Macrocheira kaempferi") is the largest in overall size, the record specimen, caught in 1921, had an extended arm span of and weighed about . The heaviest is the American lobster ("Homarus americanus"), the largest verified specimen, caught in 1977 off of Nova Scotia weighed and its body length was . The largest land arthropod and the largest land invertebrate is the coconut crab ("Birgus latro"), up to long and weighing up to on average. Its legs may span .Insects, a class of Arthropoda, are easily the most numerous class of organisms, with over one million identified species, and probably many undescribed species. The heaviest insect is almost certainly a species of beetle, which incidentally is the most species-rich order of organisms. Although heavyweight giant wetas ("Deinacrida heteracantha") are known, the elephant beetles of Central and South America, ("Megasoma elephas") and ("M. actaeon"), the Titan beetle ("Titanus giganteus") of the neotropical rainforests or the Goliath beetles, ("Goliathus goliatus") and ("G. regius"), of Africa's rainforests are thought to reach a higher weight. The most frequently crowned are the Goliath beetles, the top known size of which is at least and . The elephant beetles and titan beetle can reach greater lengths than the Goliath, at up to , respectively, but this is in part thanks to their rather large horns. The Goliath beetle's wingspan can range up to .
Wasp
Most solitary wasps are parasitoids. As adults, those that do feed typically only take nectar from flowers. Parasitoid wasps are extremely diverse in habits, many laying their eggs in inert stages of their host (egg or pupa), sometimes paralysing their prey by injecting it with venom through their ovipositor. They then insert one or more eggs into the host or deposit them upon the outside of the host. The host remains alive until the parasitoid larvae pupate or emerge as adults.
List of largest insects
Insects, which are a type of arthropod, are easily the most numerous group of multicellular organisms on the planet, with about a million species identified so far. The title of heaviest insect in the world has many rivals, the most frequently crowned of which is the larval stage of the goliath beetle, "Goliathus goliatus", the top size of which is at least and . The largest confirmed weight of an adult insect is for a giant weta, "Deinacrida heteracantha", although it is likely one of the elephant beetles, "Megasoma elephas" and "Megasoma actaeon", or goliath beetles, both of which can commonly exceed and , can reach a higher weight.
Wahpper
"Wahpper" the World's Largest Catfish is a 5,000 pound fiberglass catfish located at the Kidder Recreation Area in Wahpeton, North Dakota. It was created by the same sculptor that created Salem Sue in New Salem, North Dakota.
Spider wasp
In 1984, Justin O. Schmidt, a researcher from Arizona, developed a hymenopteran sting pain scale, now known as the Schmidt sting pain index. In this index, a 0 is given to a sting from an insect that cannot break through human skin, a 2 is given for intermediate pain, and a 4 is given for intense pain. The scale rates stings from 78 different species in 42 different genera. Spider wasps of the genus "Pepsis", also known as tarantula hawks, have a sting rating of 4. The sting is described as "blinding, fierce, and shockingly electric. A running hair dryer has been dropped into your bubble bath." Only the sting of the bullet ant, "Paraponera clavata", is ranked higher, with a 4+ rating.
Wattle bagworm
In the wild probably the most important insect enemy of "Kotochalia junodi" is an interesting parasitoid wasp, a member of the Ichneumonidae, "Sericopimpla sericata". In colour the wasp is largely black, yellowish, and red. The female wasp is about 12 mm in length, and like many Ichneumonids she has a protruding ovipositor almost as long as her gaster.
Wasp
There are estimated to be 100,000 species of ichneumonoid wasps in the families Braconidae and Ichneumonidae. These are almost exclusively parasitoids, mostly utilising other insects as hosts. Another family, the Pompilidae, is a specialist parasitoid of spiders. Some wasps are even parasitoids of parasitoids; the eggs of "Euceros" are laid beside lepidopteran larvae and the wasp larvae feed temporarily on their haemolymph, but if a parasitoid emerges from the host, the hyperparasites continue their life cycle inside the parasitoid. Parasitoids maintain their extreme diversity through narrow specialism. In Peru, 18 wasp species were found living on 14 fly species in only two species of "Gurania" climbing squash.
Humphead wrasse
The humphead wrasse is the largest living member of the family Labridae. Males are typically larger than females and are capable of reaching lengths of up to 2 meters from tip to tail and weighing up to 180 kg, but the average length is generally a little less than 1 meter. Females rarely grow larger than one meter in length. This species of fish can be easily identified by its large size, thick lips, two black lines behind its eyes, and the hump that appears on the forehead of larger adults. The color of the humphead wrasse can vary between a dull blue-green to more vibrant shades of green and purplish-blue. This particular reef fish prefers to live singly but adults are occasionally observed moving in small groups.
Hornet
Hornets (insects in the genus Vespa) are the largest of the eusocial wasps, and are similar in appearance to their close relatives yellowjackets. Some species can reach up to in length. They are distinguished from other vespine wasps by the relatively large top margin of the head and by the rounded segment of the abdomen just behind the waist. Worldwide, there are 22 recognized species of "Vespa", Most species only occur in the tropics of Asia, though the European hornet ("Vespa crabro"), is widely distributed throughout Europe, Russia, North America and Northeast Asia. Wasps native to North America in the genus "Dolichovespula" are commonly referred to as hornets (e.g. baldfaced hornets), but are actually yellowjackets.
Wasp (comics)
The "" series (set in its own continuity) features Janet van Dyne as Giant-Girl, showcasing her ability to grow rather than shrink, which she uses in combat. She is younger than her main universe counterpart and she cracks jokes along with her teammate Spider-Man. Issue 13 of the series reveals her origin as a wealthy socialite given access to size-changing Pym particles by scientist Henry Pym (here an employee of Janet's father rather than a superhero). Her maximum size is unknown, but she grows tall enough to catch a school. Instead of having her powers naturally, Janet requires a suit powered by Pym particles to change her size. Like her Earth-616 counterpart, Janet seems to change her costume regularly. The first costume is purple and black with a mask adorned with antennae that looks remarkably similar to the Giant-Man costume worn by Hank Pym in the mainstream universe. This costume allows her to grow while having the added effect of letting her control insects (though she never uses this power). This costume is later destroyed, and Janet wears a second costume that does not include a mask, as her secret identity had been revealed. Finally, Janet gains a third suit that allows her to both grow and shrink, with the suit changing in appearance depending on her size. While using this suit to shrink, she calls herself Wasp and has powers similar to her mainstream counterpart, such as flight, proportionally superhuman strength, and the ability to project bio-electrical stings. A recent preview of "Marvel Adventures: the Avengers" #19 has shown her wearing a costume which is primarily blue but has gold-yellow accents. Whether this costume increases her maximum size is yet to be seen. She also mentions that she has at least two brothers, although they have never been seen or given any names (see "Marvel Adventures: The Avengers" #3).
Chalcid wasp
Chalcid wasps (, , for their metallic colour) are insects within the superfamily Chalcidoidea, part of the order Hymenoptera. The superfamily contains some 22,500 known species, and an estimated total diversity of more than 500,000 species, meaning the vast majority have yet to be discovered and described. The name "chalcid" is often confused with the name "chalcidid", though the latter refers strictly to one constituent family, the Chalcididae, rather than the superfamily as a whole; accordingly, most recent publications (e.g.,) use the name "chalcidoid" when referring to members of the superfamily.
List of largest snakes
The largest living snakes in the world, measured either by length or by weight, are various members of the Boidae and Pythonidae families. They include anacondas, pythons, and boa constrictors, which are all non-venomous constrictors. The longest "venomous" snake, with a length up to , is the king cobra, and the heaviest venomous snake is likely to be the Gaboon viper (which also has the longest fangs and delivers the largest amount of venom) or possibly the Eastern diamondback rattlesnake – all three of which reach maximum weights in the range of .
Megaphragma
Megaphragma is a wasp genus in the family Trichogrammatidae. It contains two of the four smallest known insects, "Megaphragma caribea" (170 μm) and "Megaphragma mymaripenne" (200 μm).
Trichogramma
Although several groups of egg parasitoids are commonly employed for biological control throughout the world, "Trichogramma" spp. have been the most extensively studied. More than a thousand papers have been published on "Trichogramma" species, and they are the most used biological control agents in the world. "Trichogramma" spp. are unique in approaching the size limit of how small an insect can be, which would be determined by how few neurons they can fit in their central nervous systems, yet exhibiting a complex behavior to sustain their lives. These wasps have less than 10,000 neurons, which is 1/100th that of the next smallest insect.
Dryocosmus kuriphilus
Dryocosmus kuriphilus is a species of gall wasp known by the common names chestnut gall wasp, Oriental chestnut gall wasp, and Asian chestnut gall wasp. It is native to China and it is known in many other parts of the world, particularly the Northern Hemisphere, as an introduced species and an invasive horticultural pest. It attacks many species of chestnut (genus "Castanea"), including most cultivated varieties. It is considered the world's worst pest of chestnuts.
American bison
Two subspecies or ecotypes have been described: the plains bison ("B. b. bison"), smaller in size and with a more rounded hump, and the wood bison ("B. b. athabascae")—the larger of the two and having a taller, square hump. Furthermore, the plains bison has been suggested to consist of a northern plains ("B. b. montanae") and a southern plains ("B. b. bison") subspecies, bringing the total to three. However, this is generally not supported. The wood bison is one of the largest wild species of bovid in the world, surpassed by only the Asian gaur and wild water buffalo. It is the heaviest, and second tallest extant land animal after moose in the Americas.
Polistes carolina
Like most paper wasps, "P. carolina" constructs nests by chewing plant and wood fibers with saliva to create a paper-like material. When dried, their nests form an upside-down umbrella or dome shape with exposed honeycomb-like cells, opening at the bottom. "P. carolina" prefers to nest in protected spaces, such as naturally occurring locations in vegetation or the cavities of trees. They also frequently nest in man-made structures, such as the underside of bridges, roofs, chimneys, eaves, and wooden boxes. These nests are some of the largest of any wasp species and usually contain around 3,000 to 5,000 members.
Agelaia vicina
Agelaia vicina is a species of wasp in the genus "Agelaia". They are neotropical social wasps known to have the largest colony sizes and nest sizes among social wasps, with some colonies exceeding over one million individuals. They are predators of land arthropods, consuming both insects and spiders alike. Recent sperm morphology studies have shown that although Vespidae belong to the superfamily Vespoidea, Agelaia vicina may be more phylogenetically related to Apoidea.
Hystrichopsylla schefferi
Hystrichopsylla schefferi, also known as the mountain beaver flea and giant mountain beaver flea, is a parasitic holarctic insect belonging to the order Siphonaptera, the "siphon-wingless" (fleas). The fully grown adult can measure as much as in length, and it is the largest living flea in the world. It is native to the American Northwest. Though most members of the genus "Hystrichopsylla" are not strongly associated with any particular host animal and will generally parasitize insectivores and rodents, "H. schefferi" is monoxenously associated with the mountain beaver with which its range is coterminous. The fleas of the family Hystrichopsyllidae, along with the family Pulicidae, are the oldest of fleas in evolutionary history. "H. schefferi" can be distinguished from the very similar and closely related species "Hystrichopsylla gigas dippiei" by the number of spines in the pronotal comb, as "H. g. dippiei" has 36 and "H. schefferi" has 46.
Vespula vulgaris
Vespula vulgaris, known as the common wasp, is a wasp found in various regions of the world including the United Kingdom, Germany, India, China, New Zealand, and Australia. It is sometimes known as the European wasp; the same name is used for the species "Vespula germanica", which is also known as the German wasp. Another name for "Vespula vulgaris" is the "common yellow-jacket". In 2010, wasps in North America thought to be "Vespula vulgaris" were found to be actually a different species, "Vespula alascensis".
Wasp (comics)
Making use of the cellular implantation of sub-atomic Pym particles, the Wasp possesses the power to alter her physical size, causing her body's mass to be shunted to or gained from an alternate dimension known as Kosmos. She is able to shrink to a minimum of several centimeters or grow to a maximum of several hundred feet. Smaller or larger sizes are possible but the exertion puts a strain on her body. Initially, these abilities stem from use of a Pym particle gas released from special capsules, and later biochemical augmentation by Henry Pym. Over time, however, her body absorbs enough particles to cause cellular mutation due to repeated exposure to Pym particles, allowing her to alter her size at will.
Wasp (comics)
During their invasion of America, the Liberators fail to take Wasp into account, discounting her as being no threat due to her abilities being those to make herself "smaller and weaker". Janet is able to make her way to the cells in the Triskelion where Captain America is being held under suspicion of the murder of Hawkeye's entire family. Though she is discovered and apparently subdued, she has already liberated her boyfriend. Though Captain America easily beats the Schizoid Man, he stops fighting when several super soldiers threaten to tear Wasp apart; she then surprises them all by using her stinging powers at her normal size for the first time, killing or incapacitating all the super soldiers at once. At some point, Hank gives Janet a dose of the Giant-Man serum, which allows her to grow to gigantic proportions. At a larger size, Janet helps turn the tide in favor of American forces and crushes the Insect Queen with one stomp of her foot. It is unknown whether she can grow at will or whether this is a one-off experience.
Paper wasp
The name "paper wasps" typically refers to members of the vespid subfamily Polistinae, though it often colloquially includes members of the subfamilies Vespinae (hornets and yellowjackets) and Stenogastrinae, which also make nests out of paper. Twenty-two species of "Polistes" paper wasps have been identified in North America and approximately 300 species have been identified worldwide. The most common paper wasp in Europe is "Polistes dominula". The Old World tribe Ropalidiini contains another 300 species, and the neotropical tribes Epiponini and Mischocyttarini each contain over 250 more, so the total number of true paper wasps worldwide is about 1100 species, almost half of which can be found in the neotropics.
Polistes atrimandibularis
"P. atrimandibularis" is the smallest of the three social "Polistes" parasites. The size of the host’s species brood cells determines "P. atrimandibularis" size, with the smaller "P. atrimandibularis" emerging from the nests of "P. gallicus" and "P. associus". Likewise, the larger "P. atrimandibularis" emerge from the nests of "P. dominula" instead. This paper wasp has enlarged mandibles, used as weapons to injure hosts that resist parasite intrusion. They also have an enlarged first femur and a longer posterior tibia that is useful for when they must maintain a dominant position within the host colony.
Parischnogaster jacobsoni
The nests of "P. jacobsoni" generally reach their maximum size at 48 cells, and can house up to 6 females and 6 males, as well as a total of 33 larvae in a brood. "P. jacobsoni" wasps always use plant matter to construct their nests. They are composed of one or two linear rows anchored on a slim support or scattered across a flat surface. According to the theory that conserving material by utilizing wall-sharing cells and constructing structures to protect the nest are evidence of evolved wasp characters, "P. jacobsoni" constructs nests that are perhaps the most primitive of all wasp nests. It has almost no wall-sharing whatsoever, with cells scattered across the underside of a leaf. The nest, similar to that of "P. nigricans serrei", differs particularly because the alveolar walls are adjoined to the neighboring cells and because pupal cells, instead of being sealed, are simply narrowed.
List of largest insects
The largest species is probably either the Queen Alexandra's birdwing, "Ornithoptera alexandrae", a butterfly, or the Atlas moth, "Attacus atlas". Both of these species can exceed a length of , a wingspan of and a weight of 12 g. Their larvae can weigh up to . However, the white witch, "Thysania agrippina", has the longest recorded wingspan of the order, and indeed of any living insect, at up to , though it is exceeded in surface area and mass by both "Ornithoptera" and "Attacus".
Megarhyssa macrurus
Megarhyssa macrurus (common name giant ichneumon wasp), is a species of large ichneumon wasp.
Amblyjoppa fuscipennis
Amblyjoppa fuscipennis is a species of the parasitic wasp family Ichneumonidae."Amblyjoppa fuscipennis" can reach a height of about . It is a large black wasp with white spots between the eyes, a reddish abdomen, darkened wings and orange legs. The antennae of the males are completely black, while the females show a white band in the middle. These wasps can maily be found in August.
Campylorhynchus
Campylorhynchus is a genus of wrens, which has at least 13 described species. At 17–22 cm (6.8-8.7 in) long, these are the largest-bodied of wrens, including the largest species, the giant wren. Member species are found in South and Central America and in some cases, as far north as the southwestern United States.
Rhynchodes ursus
Rhynchodes ursus or elephant weevil is a wood-boring weevil found all over New Zealand. Adult weevils are found on trees, where they gather to feed on sap. Larvae tunnel into dead trunks and branches of southern beeches, rimu and Dracophyllum traversii.
This large weevil has a deep brown colour with two lighter bands near the side of its thorax. It has black legs with a spot of yellowish-brown hairs on each femur. It has dense scales on its body, which can be hair-like. In female specimens the antennae are inserted halfway along the rostrum and nearer the front in males. The larvae of "Rhynchodes ursus" are the host of New Zealand's largest parasitic wasp, "Certonotus fractinervis". Female wasps use a long ovipositor to lay eggs inside the larvae whilst they develop inside trees.
Wasp
Other wasps, like "Agelaia multipicta" and "Vespula germanica," like to nest in cavities that include holes in the ground, spaces under homes, wall cavities or in lofts. While most species of wasps have nests with multiple combs, some species, such as "Apoica flavissima", only have one comb. The length of the reproductive cycle depends on latitude; "Polistes erythrocephalus", for example, has a much longer (up to 3 months longer) cycle in temperate regions.
Dolichovespula saxonica
"D. saxonica" is similar to its yellowjacket relatives with the black and yellow stripes on its body. However, the Saxon wasp is larger than most of its relatives and can also be identified by the three dots on its head. The Saxon queens are largest with a body length ranging from , while the males range from and the workers from . The male body consists of a copulatory casing at the end of their gaster and seven gastral tergites – hardened plates, or sclerites that are divided on the dorsal side of the body – and sternites, which are sclerites on the ventral side of the thorax. On the other hand, the female has six gastral tergites and sternites and a sting at the end of their gaster.
Median wasp
The median wasp ("Dolichovespula media") is a species of social wasp of the family Vespidae found throughout Europe and Asia. It builds aerial paper nests often in shrubs or trees, and occasionally under the eaves of buildings. It is most common to see this wasp between May and October during its 3.3 month colony cycle. Behaviours of this wasp include nest defense, curling which is believed to function in brood incubation, and gastral vibration which is involved in larval feeding. The median wasp has a halplodiploid sex determination system that results in a high level of relatedness within the colony. This species is not usually aggressive but will sting if they feel their nest is threatened. Most foraging in the nest is done by the workers once the first ones reach adulthood. These workers forage for insects, nectar, and wood for nest construction in temperatures as low as . The median wasp is known to be occasionally affected by the fungus "Cordyceps sphecocephala" and the Cricket paralysis virus.
Japanese giant hornet
The Japanese giant hornet is large and can be very aggressive if provoked. Its venom, which is injected by the 6.25 mm-long stinger, attacks the nervous system and damages the tissue of its victims. Tests involving mice found that the venom falls short of being the most lethal of wasp venom, having an of 4.0 mg/kg. In comparison, the deadliest wasp venom (at least to lab mice) by weight belongs to "Vespa luctuosa" at 1.6 mg/kg. The potency of the sting is due, rather, to the relatively large amount of venom injected. Being stung is extremely painful and can require hospitalization. Asian giant hornet stings can cause anaphylactic shock in allergic people but can still be lethal to people who are not allergic, provided the dose is sufficient. In China, where the hornet can also be found, the conventional wisdom is that people stung more than 10 times need medical help, and emergency treatment if stung more than 30 times. The stings can also cause renal failure. Thirty to forty people die in Japan every year after having been stung by bees and wasps (including the Japanese hornet).
Synoeca cyanea
Synoeca cyanea, commonly known as marimbondo-tatu, is a swarm-founding social wasp. Native to Brazil and Argentina, "S. cyanea" is one of the largest and most aggressive species of social wasps and is feared in many rural areas. It begins its colony cycle in the early spring and continues until nest abandonment. Throughout its life, "S. cyanea" forage sugary substances and animal carcasses for food and wood pulp for its nest. "S. cyanea" is also known for its strong venom, which is enough to cause haemolytic activity.
Giant weta
There are eleven species of giant weta, most of which are larger than other weta, despite the latter also being large by insect standards. Large species can be up to 10 cm (4 in), not inclusive of legs and antennae, with body mass usually no more than 35 g. One captive female reached a mass of about 70 g (2.5 oz.), making it one of the heaviest documented insects in the world and heavier than a sparrow. This is, however, abnormal, as this individual was unmated and retained an abnormal number of eggs. The largest species of giant weta is the Little Barrier Island giant weta, also known as the wetapunga. One example reported in 2011 weighed 71 g.
Poecilopompilus interruptus
A highly variable spider wasp, which is 13 mm in length. "P. interruptus" has long orange antennae, bold rufous-brown and yellow bands on the mesosoma with yellow and brown markings on the thorax. Its legs are brown and yellow and the wasp's wings are brown. The amount of red, brown and yellow markings shows great individual variation. The antennae of males are straight or gently curved while females have antennae that curl at the ends. "Poecilopompilus" wasps may be a Müllerian mimics of various wasp species and this species appears to mimic paper wasps of the genus "Polistes". To distinguish this species from "P. algidus" the observer needs to examine the spines on the front tarsi of females and the inner margin of the eyes, "P. interruptus" females have four weak spines on the front tarsi in females and parallel inner eye margins while "P. algidus" has three strong spines and shows convergent inner eye margins.
Chrysidinae
The subfamily Chrysidinae contains those species that are most commonly recognized as cuckoo wasps, being by far the largest and most familiar subfamily. The group contains some 3000 species in 48 genera in four tribes worldwide. They are highly sculptured, with brilliantly metallic-coloredbodies, and capable of folding their bodies over (or, more commonly, rolling into a ball) as a defensive mechanism. They are most diverse in desert regions of the world, as they are typically associated with solitary bee and wasp species, which are also most diverse in such areas.
Cuckoo wasp
Commonly known as cuckoo wasps or emerald wasps, the hymenopteran family Chrysididae is a very large cosmopolitan group (over 3000 described species) of parasitoid or kleptoparasitic wasps, often highly sculptured, with brilliant metallic colors created by structural coloration. They are most diverse in desert regions of the world, as they are typically associated with solitary bee and wasp species, which are also most diverse in such areas.
Median wasp
The median wasp like many other species of wasps builds its nest out of pulp that comes from the digestion of wood. Their nests have been reported to be light yellow or light to dark grey in color depending on the material used to build the nest. These nests are about tall and wide with a thick roof. Mature nests have 2-4 circular or oval shaped combs that are surrounded by a thick envelope. There are two types of elements connecting combs. One is a rigid column down the center of the nest and the other is thin ribbon like pieces between the combs. Both are made of pulp and help to give the nest support. The entrance hole is at the bottom of the nest and often has spiraled sheets of paper surrounding it. The entrance of young nests sometimes consists of a long vestibule, or entry compartment, whose function is unknown. This long vestibule has only been observed in "D. media" and "D. maculata" species and tends to disappear as the nest matures. It may function in thermoregulation or defense. This species lives in cooler temperate climates and nests in the open so thermoregulation is a plausible explanation, but so far no other vestibule of this length have been observed in species that live in similar climates. A mature nest will house about 800 mature adults between May and October. Come October the males and workers being to die off and the queen hibernates until next spring when she will begin a new nest.
Smallest organisms
Adult males of the parasitic wasp "Dicopomorpha echmepterygis" can be as small as 139 μm long, smaller than some species of protozoa (single-cell creatures); females are 40% larger.
Mischocyttarus drewseni
"M. drewseni" is a member of the family Vespidae, which is broken down into four subfamilies: paper wasps (subfamily Polistinae), pollen wasps (subfamily Masarinae), potter and mason wasps (subfamily Eumeninae), and yellow jackets (subfamily Vespinae). Within the Vespidae, "M. drewseni" belongs to the subfamily Polistinae which is typically found in tropical regions and comprises 25 genera. Within the Polistinae is the tribe Epiponini containing many genera, all of which, including "M. drewseni", are found in the New World. The asymmetrical tarsal lobes of the genus "Mischocyttarus" separates it from other Epiponini. "Mischocyttarus" larvae also have distinct first thoracic spiracles. "Mischocyttarus" is the largest genus of social wasps, containing 186 species.
Caspian whipsnake
The Caspian whipsnake is perhaps the largest species of snake in Europe. It typically grows to around in length, though a few may exceed a length of . The record sized specimen was approximately This species is not venomous and is mostly active during the day. The head is joined to the body by a thick neck. Its pupils are round. Nineteen rows of smooth scales can be found at the middle body, though rarely there may be seventeen. Dorsal scales each have two apical pits at the posterior edge. The centre of the scale is lighter in colour than the edges. The dorsal side is grey-brown and features markings which are distinctive in juveniles and young snakes but fade with age. The ventral side is light yellow or white.
Cantuaria dendyi
Even though "Cantuaria" seem to be safe living their life underground, there are always predators who will find a way to surpass that obstacle and feed on the spider. The greatest of these enemies appears to be New Zealand's largest black hunting wasp, "Priocnemis monachus". "Cantuaria" are rather large spiders, so it makes sense that a large wasp would seek out a hefty meal for their growing larvae. Species of "Cantuaria" that live in their burrow without a trapdoor are most at risk, but this wasp is known to be strong enough to pull the lid open or bite clean through it, which puts "C. dendyi" at risk. The wasps have also been known to pretend to be an insect at the entrance and when the spider attacks, the wasp immediately grasps it. Some wasps also proceed to take over the spider's burrow, opening and closing the trapdoor as it pleases.
Phormictopus cancerides
Their most dangerous predator is the pepsis wasp, commonly called the tarantula hawk. Locally it is known as a "matacacata" (the tarantula-killer). This is a very large parasitoid wasp, with an iridescent blue-green body and orange-red wings that grows to about 2 inches or more in length. It captures the spider in its burrow or sometimes in the open and stings it to paralyze it and then lays its eggs on the abdomen. The wasp will drag its victim to a safe place to incubate its young. Once the larvae hatch they will feed on the alive but paralyzed tarantula until it dies.
Vespa luctuosa
In addition to being the most venomous known wasp, "Vespa luctuosa" has one of the highest recorded toxicities of any known insect venom. Only harvester ant venom from the genus "Pogonomyrmex" (especially "Pogonomyrmex maricopa"), as well as the unrelated ant "Ectatomma tuberculatum", are known to be more toxic.
Megalara
Megalara garuda, colloquially referred to as the "king of wasps", is a large wasp and the only species in the genus Megalara, family Crabronidae, tribe Larrini. It is only known from the Mekongga Mountains in the southeastern part of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. It was described in 2012 by Lynn Kimsey, director of the Bohart Museum of Entomology and professor of entomology at the University of California, Davis, and Michael Ohl, curator and head of entomology at the Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin. Rosichon Ubaidillah from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences also contributed the discovery.
Tetrastichinae
Tetraschininae is a subfamily of the chalcid wasp family Eulophidae. It is one of the largest subfamilies of the Eulophidae containing over 100 genera and nearly 3,000 species. The species of the family Tetrastichinae are found in almost any type of terrestrial habitat and have a worldwide distribution, except Antarctica. They show a varied biology and hosts for Tetraschine wasps have been identified from over 100 different insect families, across 10 different orders and they have also been recorded as being parasitoids on nematodes, mites and spiders' eggs. Some species are even phytophagous, while others are inquilines and yet others are gall formers.
Parasitoid wasp
Many parasitoid wasps use larval Lepidoptera as hosts, but some groups parasitize different host life stages (egg, larva or nymph, pupa, adult) of nearly all other orders of insects, especially Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera and other Hymenoptera. Some attack arthropods other than insects: for instance, the Pompilidae specialise in catching spiders: these are quick and dangerous prey, often as large as the wasp itself, but the spider wasp is quicker, swiftly stinging her prey to immobilise it. Adult female wasps of most species oviposit into their hosts' bodies or eggs. Some also inject a mix of secretory products that paralyse the host or protect the egg from the host's immune system; these include polydnaviruses, ovarian proteins, and venom. If a polydnavirus is included, it infects the nuclei of host hemocytes and other cells, causing symptoms that benefit the parasite.
Polistes biglumis
This species resides mainly in mountainous zones in Southern Europe, and it is the only paper wasp that inhabits a mountainous clime. Due to its divergence from the more common temperate climes of its genus, it has developed several distinctions from other paper wasps that arise mainly from selective pressure due to the severe climate it commonly experiences. The climate shortens the nesting season of "P. biglumis" to around four months. In addition, the nests exhibit darker coloration, which allows them to absorb more heat from the sun. Workers are also often nonexistent in some populations of "P. biglumis", which demonstrates a large dichotomy from other social wasps, whose most commonly seen specimens are the workers. Finally, because of the reduced nesting season as well as parasitism by other wasps, "P. biglumis" has developed nesting strategies that are both distinct from other paper wasps and variable among conspecific populations."Polistes biglumis" can reach a length of up to (queen), (workers), (males). It is a larger species of wasp in comparison to its relatives in "Polistes". It also exhibits darker coloration than that of other paper wasps; it has a black petiole for both sexes. The females exhibit black abdomens as well, with rare yellow spots. Males, however, have largely yellow abdomens. Adult wasps can be distinguished from the young because they are darkly colored and can fly, whereas young wasps have paler stripes and are flightless.
Giant Creepy Crawlies
Giant Creepy Crawlies is a 2001 one-hour nature documentary presented by Nigel Marven. It looks at the world's largest invertebrates, which include giant squid and sparrow-sized crickets called weta. A highlight was Nigel with a dog-sized crab.
Synoeca septentrionalis
The wasps within the family Vespidae exhibit a wide range of body sizes, and "S. septentrionalis" is one of the larger wasps within the family. As a result, they are able to generate a lift force that is able to maintain flight in the presence of their large muscle mass. In order for this to occur in the most efficient manner possible, these wasps have enlarged wings and veins that are distally extended. The elongated wings will allow for flying that is more energetically efficient, in order to compensate for their large body size and muscle mass, while the distally-organized veins will prevent bending of the wings, which would result in a loss of energy.
Megarhyssa nortoni
Megarhyssa nortoni (common name western giant ichneumon) is a species of large ichneumon wasp.
Vespinae
The subfamily Vespinae contains the largest and best-known eusocial wasps, including true hornets (the genus "Vespa"), and the "yellowjackets" (genera "Dolichovespula" and "Vespula"). The remaining genus, "Provespa", is a small, poorly known group of nocturnal wasps from Southeast Asia. One genus, "Palaeovespa", has been described from the Eocene fossil record, from Colorado. Collectively, the group can be found on all continents except Antarctica, and several of these wasps are invasive species, introduced beyond their native ranges, and can be major pests.
Microchaetus rappi
Microchaetus rappi, the African giant earthworm, is a large earthworm in the Microchaetidae family, the largest of the segmented worms (commonly called earthworms). It averages about 1.4 m (4.5 ft) in length, but can reach a length of as much as 6.7 m (22 ft) and can weigh over 1.5 kg (3.3 lb).
Polistes canadensis
Both male and female "Polistes canadensis" have a uniformly light to dark mahogany-brown body, sometimes with the head and thorax of a lighter shade. Its rust colored body gives the red paper wasp its common name. Some feature a yellow apical margin of the first tergum as well. The wings are purplish black, and the veins and stigma are either black or reddish brown. The "Polistes canadensis" is a large-bodied wasp with a wing length ranging from 17.0 to 24.5 mm.
Nests are constructed from plant fibers such as dry grass and dead wood, which like in other paper wasps, that they mix with saliva to create water-resistant nests made out of papery material. These nests are not covered with an envelope and feature hexagonal cells in which eggs are laid and larvae develop. The "Polistes canadensis" colony divides its colony among several combs, with an average size of 30.8 cells per comb. A large, mature but still growing colony has about 838 cells distributed among 38 combs. Combs on vertical (walls and tree trunks) and sloping surfaces (tree limbs) hang with the petiole at the upper end. Colonies on tree trunks tend to add secondary combs above or below the first comb resulting in a linear arrangement. In contrast, nests on horizontal surfaces away from edges (i.e. ceilings) feature eccentric petioles with secondary combs bordering the central primary comb in a semicircular perimeter. No comb has more than one petiole. Petioles average 9.9 mm in length. When combs reach their final size, adult wasps can often step directly from one comb to another; the average distance between petioles of nearby combs is 2.9 cm. Although rare, adjacent combs sometimes grow to touch.
Parischnogaster mellyi
All hover wasp species were placed under one genus, "Stenogaster", until 1927, when von Schulthess created the new genus, Parischnogaster, for species populated in Asia. "Parischnogaster" was synonymized with Holischnogaster by Carpenter in 1982, and it is possibly the largest and the least well known genus.
Polistes
Wasps of the cosmopolitan genus Polistes (the only genus in the tribe Polistini) are the most familiar of the polistine wasps, and are the most common type of paper wasp in North America. It is also the single largest genus within the family Vespidae, with over 300 recognized species and subspecies. Their innate preferences for nest-building sites leads them to commonly build nests on human habitation, where they can be very unwelcome; although generally not aggressive, they can be provoked into defending their nests. All species are predatory, and they may consume large numbers of caterpillars, in which respect they are generally considered beneficial. The European paper wasp, "Polistes dominula", was introduced into the US about 1981 and has quickly spread throughout most of the country, in most cases replacing native species within a few years. This species is very commonly mistaken for a yellow jacket, as it is black, strongly marked with yellow, and quite different from the native North American species of "Polistes". The cuckoo wasp, "Polistes sulcifer", is an obligate social parasite, whose only host is "P. dominula". "Polistes annularis", whose species name is Latin for "ringed", is also known for its distinctive red body color. "Polistes metricus" adults malaxate their insect prey by chewing them into a pulp, sucking out and ingesting the body fluids, then feeding the rest of the morsel to their larvae. The most widely distributed South American wasp species, "Polistes versicolor", is particularly common in the southeastern Brazilian states. This social wasp is commonly referred to as the yellow paper wasp due to the distinct yellow bands found on its thorax and abdomen. "Polistes" wasps can be identified by their characteristic flight; their long legs dangle below their bodies, which are also more slender than a yellow jacket.
List of mammals of Wyoming
The elk, or wapiti ("Cervus canadensis"), is one of the largest species of deer in the world and one of the largest mammals in North America and eastern Asia. In the deer family (Cervidae), only the moose, "Alces alces" (called an "elk" in Europe), is larger, and "Cervus unicolor" (the sambar deer) can rival the "C. canadensis" elk in size. Elk range in forest and forest-edge habitat, feeding on grasses, plants, leaves, and bark.
Oxybelus
Oxybelus is a genus of wasps in the family Crabronidae. The species are found worldwide except in the Australian region. 
They are especially represented in the Palearctic. "Oxybelus" is the largest genus in Crabronidae, with 264 species known.
Rotoita basalis
Within their natural ecosystems, other parasitic wasps are the enemies of host insects. Many species live in leaf litter: Some have reduced or absent wings, so they cannot fly. The size that parasitic wasps reach is limited by the size of their host. Smaller ones, such as "Rotoita basalis", we would expect develop inside small hosts, like insects’ eggs, or scale insects.
Gall wasp
Gall wasps, also called gallflies, are a family (Cynipidae) in the wasp superfamily Cynipoidea within the suborder Apocrita of the order Hymenoptera. Their common name comes from the galls they induce on plants for larval development. About 1300 species of this generally very small creature (1–8 mm) are known worldwide, with about 360 species of 36 different genera in Europe and some 800 species in North America.
Hemipepsis ustulata
Tarantula hawks exemplify evolutionary success in insect defense. Justin Schmidt, from personal communication with John Alcock, the world’s leading "H. ustulata" expert: “They are aposematic, brightly colored and odored, and have hard, closely fitting, smooth and slippery integumentary sclerites, live long, form defensive warning aggregations, and even have sharp and effective defensive leg spines.” Unquestionably, they are some of the best-defended insects on earth. The well-documented descriptions of battles between tarantula hawk and tarantula evidence their defensive strength. In the jaws of one of the largest and most powerful spiders on earth, the tarantula hawk still almost invariably escapes unharmed. During their violent encounters, one can often hear loud crunching or snapping sounds as the tarantula attempts to crush the wasp in its jaws. Not a single wasp death in 200 tarantula encounters was recorded by Petrunkevitch, and only one wasp injury was observed in William’s extensive field studies. Their strong, slippery integumentary armor allows the wasp to slip away unharmed.
Megachile rotundata
Chalcid wasps are the primary parasites of "M. rotundata." Some species include "Pteromalus venustus", "Monodontomerus obscurus", "Melittobia chalybii", "Diachys confusus", and "Sapyga pumila". The most formidable predator of this species is "P. venustus", a parasitoid wasp in which the female will use its ovipositor to sting a developing "M. rotundata" larva or pupa. After stinging to paralyze its host, the female lays her eggs on the host's surface and the development of the parasite offspring takes place. After about 15–20 weeks, adult "P. venustus" emerge.
Hyalophora cecropia
Hyalophora cecropia, the cecropia moth, is North America's largest native moth. It is a member of the family Saturniidae, or giant silk moths. Females have been documented with a wingspan of five to seven inches (160 mm) or more. These moths can be found all across North America as far west as Washington and north into the majority of Canadian provinces. Cecropia moth larvae are most commonly found on maple trees, but they have also been found on cherry and birch trees among many others. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of "Systema Naturae"
Largest organisms
The giant squid ("Architeuthis dux") was previously thought to be the largest squid, and while it is less massive and has a smaller mantle than the colossal squid, it may exceed the colossal squid in overall length including tentacles. One giant squid specimen that washed ashore in 1878 in Newfoundland reportedly measured in total length (from the tip of the mantle to the end of the long tentacles), head and body length , in diameter at the thickest part of mantle, and weighed about . This specimen is still often cited as the largest invertebrate that has ever been examined. However, no animals approaching this size have been scientifically documented and, according to giant squid expert Steve O'Shea, such lengths were likely achieved by greatly stretching the two tentacles like elastic bands.
Solórzano's velvet worm ("Peripatus solorzanoi") is the largest velvet worm known. An adult female was recorded to have a body length of 22 cm (approximately 8.7 in).
List of largest insects
The largest wasp is probably the so-called tarantula hawk species "Pepsis pulszkyi", at up to long and wingspan, although many other "Pepsis" species approach a similar size. The giant scoliid wasp "Megascolia procer" may rival the tarantula hawks in weight, if not length and wingspan, and the Asian giant hornet "Vespa mandarinia" can reach a body length of up to 2 in.
Wrasse
The wrasses are a family, Labridae, of marine fish, many of which are brightly colored. The family is large and diverse, with over 600 species in 81 genera, which are divided into 9 subgroups or tribes.
They are typically small fish, most of them less than long, although the largest, the humphead wrasse, can measure up to . They are efficient carnivores, feeding on a wide range of small invertebrates. Many smaller wrasses follow the feeding trails of larger fish, picking up invertebrates disturbed by their passing. Juveniles of some representatives of the genera "Bodianus", "Epibulus", "Cirrhilabrus", "Oxycheilinus", and "Paracheilinus" hide among the tentacles of the free-living mushroom coral "Heliofungia actiniformis".
Poecilopompilus algidus
"P. algidus" is 13–28 mm in length with females usually larger than males and in some areas it is a mainly black wasp with a red spot on the metasoma. However, the wasps of the genus "Poecilopompilus" may be Müllerian mimics of other wasps and that the variation in appearance of "P.algidus" over its range is due to it mimicking other sympatric wasps with painful stings, for example it resembles the paper wasps in the genus "Polistes" in the south, and thus be difficult to distinguish from its congener "Poecilopompilus interruptus", but in the northern part of its range, it mimics the spider wasps of the geuus "Anoplius". To identify the two species, the observer needs to examine the spines on the front tarsi of females and the inner margin of the eyes, "P. algidus" females have 3 strong spines and the species shows convergent inner eye margins, while "P. interruptus" shows four weak spines on the front tarsi in females and parallel inner eye margins.
Garuda
One of the largest known species of wasp takes its name from Garuda, "Megalara garuda".
Leptofoeninae
The subfamily contains only two genera, "Doddifoenus" (with three species) and "Leptofoenus" (with five extant species). The species "Doddifoenus wallacei" is the largest known chalcidoid wasp, reaching nearly in length (including ovipositor).
Polistes snelleni
"P. snelleni" are black and yellow wasps. The queens are the biggest of the species, and the workers, young queens, and males follow. Workers typically have worn wings that distinguish them from young queens. The weight of new reproductive females (young queens) is 102 mg. Workers can be identified by white-creamy body fat. Workers that have developed ovaries are workers, but not reproductive females.
Megarhyssa greenei
Megarhyssa greenei is a species of large ichneumon wasps. It is known from the United States and Canada. It is very similar in appearance to "Megarhyssa macrurus", but the latter species has a relatively longer ovipositor (about 2x the total body length, where "greenei" is only slightly greater than 1x), and usually has more extensive dark wing markings. "M. greenei also" lacks the dark striping on the face present on "M. macrurus."
Parachartergus fraternus
"Parachartergus fraternus" nests are covered by a protective envelope which characterizes this species. The envelope often has only one opening to the soil which protects against ants, the wasp's main enemy. The wasp envelope is gray and constructed of long fibers. It is also single sheeted and has horizontal ridges. Peduncles are usually 6 mm wide and 7 mm long and are composed of vegetal fibers that are attached to the base of the nest with saliva. The nests have several layers of cells that are fixed to leaves or branches that branch out to a lateral stalk. The openings to the cells in the nest are directed downwards and have hexagonal walls. Although the sizes of nests vary, the diameter of these cells is usually around 4 mm while the height is around 10 mm. Some colonies have two combs with 98 cells while others may have 12 combs with 1751 cells.
Parasitoid
Within the Hymenoptera, parasitoidism evolved just once, and the many described species of parasitoid wasps represent the great majority of species in the order, barring those like the ants, bees, and Vespidae wasps that have secondarily lost the parasitoid habit. The parasitoid wasps include some 25,000 Ichneumonoidea, 22,000 Chalcidoidea, 5,500 Vespoidea, 4,000 Platygastroidea, 3,000 Chrysidoidea, 2,300 Cynipoidea, and many smaller families. These often have remarkable life cycles.
They can be classified as either endoparasitic or ectoparasitic according to where they lay their eggs. Endoparasitic wasps insert their eggs inside their host, usually as koinobionts, allowing the host to continue to grow (thus providing more food to the wasp larvae), moult, and evade predators. Ectoparasitic wasps deposit theirs outside the host's body, usually as idiobionts, immediately paralysing the host to prevent it from escaping or throwing off the parasite. They often carry the host to a nest where it will remain undisturbed for the wasp larva to feed on. Most species of wasps attack the eggs or larvae of their host, but some attack adults. Oviposition depends on finding the host and on evading host defenses; the ovipositor is a tube-like organ used to inject eggs into hosts, sometimes much longer than the wasp's body. Hosts such as ants often behave as if aware of the wasps' presence, making violent movements to prevent oviposition. Wasps may wait for the host to stop moving, and then attack suddenly.
Wasp
Many species of wasp, including especially the cuckoo or jewel wasps (Chrysididae), are kleptoparasites, laying their eggs in the nests of other wasp species to exploit their parental care. Most such species attack hosts that provide provisions for their immature stages (such as paralyzed prey items), and they either consume the provisions intended for the host larva, or wait for the host to develop and then consume it before it reaches adulthood. An example of a true brood parasite is the paper wasp "Polistes sulcifer", which lays its eggs in the nests of other paper wasps (specifically "Polistes dominula"), and whose larvae are then fed directly by the host. Sand wasps "Ammophila" often save time and energy by parasitising the nests of other females of their own species, either kleptoparasitically stealing prey, or as brood parasites, removing the other female's egg from the prey and laying their own in its place. According to Emery's rule, social parasites, especially among insects, tend to parasitise species or genera to which they are closely related. For example, the social wasp "Dolichovespula adulterina" parasitises other members of its genus such as "D. norwegica" and "D. arenaria".
Zeta argillaceum
This wasp adapts easily to habitat change and the nests are a common sight, often in small groups, attached to the walls of buildings in urban areas. The nest cell is roughly spherical, up to 18 mm in diameter, with a single small entrance hole. A single egg is laid in each cell: the adult wasp stocks the cell with paralyzed living food (usually geometrid moth larvae) for the emerging wasp larva to feed on. The nest is only used once by "Z. argillaceum" but is often reused by other potter wasps such as "Pachodynerus spp".
Mischocyttarus mexicanus
"M. mexicanus" was described by Henri de Saussure in 1854, and it is a member of the social polistine wasp genus "Mischocyttarus". "Mischocyttarus" is actually cited as the largest genus of social wasps, and it consists entirely of New World wasp species. "M. mexicanus" includes at least two subspecies: "M. mexicanus cubicula" (Richards, 1978) and "M. mexicanus mexicanus" (de Saussure). "Mischocyttarus" biology is, reportedly, very similar to that of several wasps of the genus "Polistes".
Wasp
Wasps are a diverse group, estimated at over a hundred thousand described species around the world, and a great many more as yet undescribed. For example, there are over 800 species of fig trees, mostly in the tropics, and almost all of these has its own specific fig wasp (Chalcidoidea) to effect pollination.
Attacus atlas
The Atlas moth is one of the largest lepidopterans with a wingspan measuring between and a wing surface area of about 400 cm (62 in). It is only surpassed in wingspan by the white witch ("Thysania agrippina") and in wing surface area by the Hercules moth ("Coscinocera hercules"). As in most Lepidoptera, females are noticeably larger and heavier than males, while males have broader antennae.
Puriri moth
The puriri moth ("Aenetus virescens") is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae. It is also commonly called the ghost moth or pepetuna. This moth is endemic to the North Island of New Zealand. It is New Zealand's largest moth, with a wingspan of up to 150 mm. It spends the first five to six years of its life as a grub in a tree trunk (common host plants are the puriri tree ("Vitex lucens") and putaputawētā ("Carpodetus serratus)", but puriri larva also inhabit non-native species such as "Eucalyptus"), with the last 48 hours of its life as a moth. Footage has been taken of a puriri moth chrysalis hatching over a period of one hour and forty minutes.
Polistes exclamans
As a vespid wasp, "P. exclamans" nests are typically made up of paper with a single layer of cells with open combs. Although nest size varies, the upper limit is around 500 cells. Although many vespid wasp nests have an outer envelope of paper, "P. exclamans" nests do not. As indicated by Strassmann and Orgren, “Nests are approximately circular, and have a single off-center pedicel usually located towards the top of the nest. Cells near the pedicle are the oldest.” "P. exclamans" are particularly able to colonize new sites as foundresses often disperse into new territories. "P. exclamans" have often been found to have nests located near man-made structures and tend to more readily build nests in and near these man-made structures. Out of six wasp species, "P. exclamans" was the only one that occupied artificial nesting sites. It prefers well-lit, open sites.