Nope, I’m not repeating myself. I did write about the TV show All Creatures Great and Small that was on PBS a few years ago. Highly recommend it. No, today, I am simply doubting the phrase. Abby called me to one of our patio doors the other day to see a big mosquito. I think she just wanted me to squish it. When I saw this fearsome beast, I wasn’t about to get near it. All Creatures Great and Small?? Not when they look like Tracker Jackers from The Hunger Games.

Fortunately, it was outside of the house, so we let it be. That stinger though. Wowzers. It looks like it could cause some serious damage. Words like impale come to mind when looking at it.

After some research, however, it appears to be a Giant Ichneumon Wasp (Megarhyssa macrurus) or at least in that family of wasps. Rather than a large stinger, it’s actually an ovipositor that the females use to lay eggs in the larvae of other insects like Horntails. Since they lay eggs in other larvae, they are considered parasitic and are actually helpful as a biological pest control. 

A few sources did say that if you make them mad they will jab you with their ovipositor and cause a little pain and swelling, so maybe it’s still a good idea to give them some space. Not a bug I’ve ever seen in all my years of gardening and yard work. You learn something new every day! And I guess I’ll let the phrase All Creatures Great and Small stand. Until the next villainous-looking bug arrives…

P.S. We’re celebrating our first anniversary of Yoga in the Garden this weekend! If you’ve never tried yoga, this is a great chance to check it out, plus you’ll receive a complimentary plant and 20% off coupon to use on something at Kerby’s (see coupon for details). Click the image below to join us.

Later in the month of June we have a special yoga session of 108 Sun Salutations – this class is FREE, click the image to register.