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I would appreciate help in identification of this small wasp measuring around 3.5 - 4mm. It was photographed in Cape Town, South Africa a few days ago. It is an excellent ant mimic although the effect is lost at high magnification. It flatly refused to fly and the two white stripes on the wing had me thinking there was a noded petiole before the photo magnification revealed otherwise (squinting reproduces the effect partially by removing some detail). Thanks for the help.

Best Wishes

Philip

4 Photos

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Hi Philip,

from my point of view it's definitly a chalcid wasp, most probably belonging to family Eupelmidae (due to large, undivided mesopleuron).
You might try the Chalcidoidea-section on forum.hymis.de for further ID.

Very nice pics!

Best regards,

Marc

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Hi Marc

Thank you very much for the ID and info on furthering it. Will try the forum also!

Best wishes

Philip

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Yes, very nice pictures!
Indeed it's a female Eupelmidae. It looks like an Eupelminae to me, but I don't know south african genera.
The enlarged midbasitarsus and the strong midtibial spur (last picture) are two other diagnostic features of females. They are very good jumpers, and I've never seen any of them fly.