Insects
Observed by Simon Walker


on 13th August 2012



on 13th August 2012(Added to iSpot on 13th August 2012)
I don't know if I've got two species or just one here... The second picture is of the insect beneath the other, which had by then flown away; I couldn't find it again.
They were on phragmites reeds, later tansy.
Location: Rye Meads RSPB
Other observations of ichneumonid wasp (Ichneumoninae)
Comments
male and female
females in the subfamily Ichneumoninae (as do many ichneumonids) usually have concealed ovipositors, that is to say, if no ovipositor is visible an ichneumonid is not necessarily male.
The colour patterns and body shapes in the pics above are consistent with a male and female ichneumonine.





Thank you, Naturegirl and David
So we're talking Ichneumon wasps, possibly of the same species, but perhaps not. Tricky little devils, aren't they? I looked for a long ovipositor, thinking that might indicate some sort of Ichneumon, but neither insect seems to be so equipped. Does that mean we have two males? If so, they must be different species.
Gosh! Perhaps it's a new species! We could name it after me! (This is a joke ;-))
Regards