Whatever it is, it looks like it could sting pretty good. You can keep them over in your neck of the woods. I don't need any here.

Syreeta

I think I found it, Gil. But, it looks like a bit of a rarity in your neck of the woods (and mine). Its habitat is the eastern part of North America. Maybe it's starting to migrate westward. Hmmmmm . . .

I checked 3 or 4 websites and they all look like this . . .

Shauna

Here is a link that might be useful: Pigeon Horntail Tremex columba

Shauna, I was going to say some kind of Tenthredinidae spp. Horntail too ;)

Oh my, that is just @%&*# nasty! LOL! Thanks Shauna & Sharon, that's what it is, they must be uncommon because I have never seen one before. But the guide says that they lay their eggs in fungus-infested wood, and my yard has some old tree stumps that are really really full of fungus. We get a lot of species from Eastern Canada, Winnipeg seems to be sort of the crossover area for birds and things too.

Syreeta, apparently the stinger thing is acutally an oviposter for laying eggs. Since it is friendly I will keep an eye out for an extra one to send you ;0)

I'm getting to be such a hippy - I didn't even kill it LOL

There is a good article in

http://www.kwic.com/nfn/lotu1204.pdf

about the horntail. Could it have come in with some lumber from the east? Although, it does say that it eats on the fungus of the infected hardwood trees.

Glad you found it, not me.

Brenda