What kind of insect is very small, thin, fragile and has a painful sting?

Sometimes I come across very frail inects, less than a centimeter long, that have legs thinner than hair and are very easy to smash. Surprisingly, they can deliver a very painful sting. I often find them on plants, especially maple trees.

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Answer by Rathjinngmailcom (234)

Those are called Pigeon Horntails and they are a type of wasp. They are similar to Red Headed Ash Borer and typically both species feeds off things it finds like ahphids, fungus and each other. They often bore into the tree to lay eggs and leave a bulbous portion of a tree branch.

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Reply by catman529 (809):
Thanks for your help but the insect I'm talking about doesn't look anything like a pigeon horntail wasp. It looks like a nymph, because it has no wings, and moves very slowly. add a comment

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Answer by 12 (82)

You could be speaking of small bees. They are often easy to kill but you may run the risk of getting stung.

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Reply by catman529 (809):
Thanks, but it's not a bee. This looks like a nymph of some sort, almost resembling a miniature mantis except without the claws. Its body is as thin as a thread and it's either green or brown. add a comment

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