Mystery Insect

[clasher]

I was breaking up some wooden pallets yesterday to burn in my wood burner, when an insect flew up, the like of which, I've never seen before. It was over 2"[50mm] long with a wasp like body, i.e. yellow and black, diaphanous wings, pink legs, a yellow sting at the end, antennae, and a long needle protruding from the rear. I must admit a moment of panic when it flew up at me, so I'm afraid I destroyed it. Looking at it today to take some pics, touching on the needle, the body had a definite reaction movement, even though its been dead for over 24 hours. Obviously some sort of stimuli, but it made me jump. Any idea anyone?

[Vagrant]

Horntail or Sabre Wasp?
Both fearsome looking, but harmless to humans!

[B00]

Well it's certainly harmless now!

[poodicat]

Wood Wasp burrows its self into the wood,will not sting you,just scare the s.h.i.t.e out of you...

[clasher]

You are certainly right there Poodicat, I've still not got over it, and I am a 6ft 2" 70 year old, built like a brick s***house

[Vagrant]

Whereabouts are you?

[clasher]

I'm in North Derbyshire. The pallets came from India, I think that, that was at the back of my mind when I saw it

[jomifl]

It could be some kind of ichneumon fly, they have an ovipositor which people often think is a sting and it can be very long ie. as long as the fly's body. They have a long ovipositor so that they can lay eggs in their prey which are quiet often wood boring grubs. If it only has one wing on each side then it is a fly, if 2 wings each side then almost certainly it is a wasp.

[Robinia]

Was this it?
http://homepage.ntlwo...ie.allan1/urogig.html

[Vagrant]

Clasher - "Looking at it today to take some pics" - how about posting a pic so we can get a better look?

[jomifl]

Excellent link robinia, it fits the description.

[clasher]

That's exactly it Robinia, excellent, thank you very much. Have a look at Robinia's link Vagrant, the picture there is a lot better than mine, as this one was alive. It's taken a while to respond, but Sherlock is too good to miss

[Robinia]

Just spotted you clasher as I was switching off. Scary creatures aren't they, the first one I ever saw was in the house! I'm not normally frightened by insects, spiders etc but that one freaked me out a bit. :o)