Strange sightings

Three unusual insects turn up in Val's garden in one day

- Val Bourne

A FEW weeks ago, I spotted an insect in distress. It was struggling to get out of a plastic trug holding a few inches of rainwater, following yet another summer downpour. I gently tipped the water out and the poor half-drowned creature began to clean the water from its wings. That’s when I noticed the long tail, stripy body and bright-yellow eyes, but it was the size that took me back. It was well over 1in (2.5cm) in length. I rushed to get my camera, but every time I pointed the lens towards this insect it raised its tail in distress. It flew away, hopefully no worse for its impromptu swimming lesson.

The insect was a giant wood wasp, Urocerus gigas, also known as the giant horntail. It’s quite common, according to the Wildlife Trusts, and it flies between May and August. The one I photographed, badly, I hasten to add, was a female and the long tail is an ovipositor and not a sting. The tail is used to drill into wood and then the female lays her eggs in tunnels inside the wood. They prefer pine wood. The larvae spend up to five years developing, so it’s difficult to know where this adult female came from.