ichneumon wasp; ichneumon fly
Refers to parasitic wasps of the family Ichneumonidae. In everyday Japanese, katakana is the most common written form.
I found an ichneumon wasp in the garden.
Ichneumon wasps lay their eggs on other insects.
Katakana spelling is common for this insect name.
Kanji spelling is rare; the word is usually written in kana.
Compound of 姫 (hime, 'princess') and 蜂 (hachi, 'bee/wasp'). The exact motivation for 'princess' is uncertain, but it may refer to the wasp's slender, elegant appearance.