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Eleebichneumon pittata
About 15mm long; black head, eyes, thorax; wings held back at rest tinted brown; abdomen part bright red/orange back with black tail-end; legs red/orange.
Found on a windswept ocean beach. Seemed to be damaged or mis-shapen possibly from being washed up in the surf.
Still haven't determined whether this wasp was actively hunting on the beach or a victim of the wind and surf on that particular day. (Note how the abdomen and legs seem rearranged.) Thanks John La Salle for guidance.
Spotted on Feb 14, 2013
Submitted on Feb 19, 2013
7 Comments
Thansk so much John - adjusting accordingly.
Sorry, can't comment - I am a "chalcid guy" and wouldn't attempt identifications in ichneumonids. These are all pretty difficult groups.
Got an ID on it now John - what do you think?
I'd still say ich. The "horse head" often works. The second recurrent vein is apparently the really key character - if you can figure it out and see it.
Added photos of wing venation and antennae.. because of the transparency and overlap of the wings I still not certain if Ichneumon... I'll play with the image a bit. The antennae are impressive in light of John's comment... looks like about 28 segments to me !?
Thanks John. Going back through photos now for clearer views of 'horse head'.
More than likely an Ichneumonidae. Within Hymenoptera only a few families (plus rare exceptions) have more than 15 antennal segments: Ichneumonidae and Braconidae. Need to really see wing venation to separate these two families for sure, but it looks like an ich to me.