Stilbum cyanurum

Description:

One of the most colorfull cuckoo wasps I've encountered so far. Found on Eryngium campestre . It's a parasitoid of wasps who build mud nests (e.g. Eumenes species, Abispa splendida, Xenorhynchium nitidulum ...). Stilbum cyanurum belongs to the Chrysididae or gold wasps, which to me are close to "flying colorbooks" , if you are able to photograph one ( because they tend to be hyperactive) then most of the cases you are amazed by their bright & reflecting colors. To id. Chrysididae species it is always helpfull to have some images of the back of the animal. Found this specimen in the fall of the evening (hence the brown background colors and not too white overall lighting on the specimen) while enjoying sipping at the nectar of Eryngium campestre. Aparently this species is a globetrotter, soince I 've notice both shots form Europe & Australia ...