Gasteruptiid Wasp - female

Description:

This slender wasp was about 15 mm long. It was mostly black with some brown on the thorax. Tibiae were thick and tarsi white. The long abdomen had a white-tipped ovipositor. The last photo shows a blue blur of beating wings which is what could be seen when the active wasp was in flight.

Habitat:

Spotted hunting around holes on a eucalyptus log in a nature reserve.

Notes:

This is a wasp which I have found very difficult to photograph because they do not settle for long. There were two wasps active around this log probably looking for insect eggs or larvae to lay their eggs on. The adult wasps are said to feed on nectar. Absence of a toothed crown on head distinguishes this wasp from those in an unrelated family, Stephanidae. The thick tibiae is siad to distinguish this wasp from Ichneumons. Order: Hymenoptera Suborder: Apocrita Superfamily: Evanioidea Family: Gasteruptiidae