Banded Pupa Parasite Wasp

Description:

A striking black wasp about 20mm in length. White marking seen on head, thorax and as bands along the abdomen. Legs were long and yellowish orange in colour. There was a band of white on the tarsi of the last pair of legs and the antennae had white markings at the tip. The wasp had a long ovipositor.

Habitat:

This wasp was spotted on an Iron bark eucalyptus tree.

Notes:

Going by the length of the ovipositor, this wasp might be a female. She was difficult to photograph as she was busy flitting around, walking and searching for possible prey at the base of the tree. A great-looking wasp ! This wasp belongs to the subfamily of Phygadeuontinae, the largest family in the Ichneumon wasps. The larvae are external parasites on pupae of moths and other insects.