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scorpion wasp

Ichneumonidae family

Description:

Ichneumonidae is a family within the insect order Hymenoptera. Insects in this family are commonly called ichneumon wasps. Less exact terms are ichneumon flies (they are not closely related to true flies), or scorpion wasps due to the extreme lengthening and curving of the abdomen (scorpions are not insects). Simply but ambiguously these insects are commonly called "ichneumons", which is also a term for the Egyptian Mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon); ichneumonids is often encountered as a less ambiguous alternative. Ichneumon wasps are important parasitoids of other insects. Common hosts are larvae and pupae of Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera.

Habitat:

Spotted in mixed forest near water.

Species ID Suggestions



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9 Comments

sttweets
sttweets 12 years ago

@alicelongmartin, if it wasn't for the location your suggestion of a Horse Guard Wasp would have been it I think.
I just learned from a local Dutch website that we have over 1500 different wasps in the Netherlands, a lot of them look alike. I think I have to do a lot more research :-)!

Ashish Nimkar
Ashish Nimkar 12 years ago

Weets... I think your second picture will help you lot in confirming the specie. You can see it in actual size and judge its back, waist and tail parts on your computer.

sttweets
sttweets 12 years ago

@Ashish Never a good idea to disturb a sleeping wasp,... better to say to disturb nature in general.

sttweets
sttweets 12 years ago

@alicelongmartin, Well, I'm not completely sure on the ID so I will look into your suggestion. Although I wasn't able to get a good shot from the side or back I still have a bit more detail in my head.

alicelongmartin
alicelongmartin 12 years ago

But of course we are talking about another country so stick with what you have.

alicelongmartin
alicelongmartin 12 years ago

It looks like a Horse Guard Wasp in my book from what we can see. The yellow legs help.

Ashish Nimkar
Ashish Nimkar 12 years ago

hehehe...may be... Good luck next time..!!

sttweets
sttweets 12 years ago

It was so well 'hidden' in the plant that I could not take better pictures. A shame I know, but I didn't want to make him move (it was early morning, he seemed still asleep :-) ).

Ashish Nimkar
Ashish Nimkar 12 years ago

I like to see complete side view of this wasp..!!
Third picture is very interesting with wasps moves..!!

sttweets
Spotted by
sttweets

Gemert-Bakel, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands

Spotted on Jun 24, 2011
Submitted on Jul 15, 2011

Spotted for Mission

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Ichneumonidae wasp Ichneumonidae Ichneumonidae Wasp Spotting

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Reference

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