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parasitic wasp w conspicuous wings -> Heydenia pretiosa
Carnifex	#1 Posted on 21-10-2019 21:18
Member Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 827 Joined: 23.06.15	Hi, can this wasp be identified (family/genus maybe)? I think I lost the sample, so these are all the images I can provide. Found in June in Vienna, near forest edge. Edited by Carnifex on 22-10-2019 13:44 Cheers, Lorin Font Color All requests are from the urban area of Vienna, if not otherwise stated. My Diptera observations (and other living forms) can be found here, and corrections or comments over there would also be appreciated.


Marc T	#2 Posted on 22-10-2019 11:53
Member Location: Hamburg, Germany Posts: 236 Joined: 30.08.11	Hi Lorin, just went through my "illustrated key to West-Palearctic Genera of Pteromalidae" from Boucek and Rasplus (1991). Your specimen could be a female Heydenia pretiosa, in the key described as follows: "Pronotum long and narrow, with lower edges of lateral pannels widening forwards. Thorax virtually bare. Forewing with 3 dark bands, proximal one small, attached to enlarged parastigma which bears a tuft of black bristles. Antennae in both sexes simple, filiform, without conspicuous pilosity" further down: "Only H. pretiosa FÖRSTER. Parasite of scolytids; adults apprear on trunks and twigs of infested dying trees. Whole Europe." The picture in the key looks pretty similar to your images. As chalcids are a quite diverse group, it might also be a different species or even a member of another family. Maybe you can see more details on your original pics to confirm or reject Heydenia. Best regards, Marc


Carnifex	#3 Posted on 22-10-2019 13:44
Member Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 827 Joined: 23.06.15	Yes, thank you so much, Marc! Indeed, the specimen was found on a pile of tree logs, where also various xylophagous beetles have been found. So habitat would be suitable as well. After looking at more images, I am very confident it is the suggested species. Cheers, Lorin Font Color All requests are from the urban area of Vienna, if not otherwise stated. My Diptera observations (and other living forms) can be found here, and corrections or comments over there would also be appreciated.