John Smit wrote:
Hi all,


@ Jorge,
This really is the first time I heard they can be found in spider webs!! Really looking forward to seeing photo's of it! And if you would be so kind as to put a few of them on alcohol for me, I'ld be greatfull!

The Polistes infesting species as well as the Andrena insfesting ones are quite common, the other species however are rather rare! There are still several Aculeate genera with strepsipteran's which I have never seen before: in Panurgus, Bembix, Bembicinus, Podalonia, Ammophila etc. Has any of you ever seen these?
Another species that is quite common, or at least suspected to be quite common is Halictophagus silwoodensis paraitising in Ulopa reticulata (Homoptera, Cicadellidae), which feeds monophagous on Calluna vulgaris. Here in the Netherlands it should be possible to see the males in april on Calluna. No idea if it can be found outside it's known range, i.e. Belgium, Germany, England and the Netherlands. So go look for it ;). I have recorded this species new for the Netherlands last year, including pictures of females inside the abdomen of the Ulopa and a picture of the Ulopa reticulata, anyone who wants a pdf, just let me know. Could make the searching somewhat easier.

John