Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Ichneumon ?
Posted by LordV on 15-07-2006 22:08
#1
Small Ichneumon I assume, sitting on my car. Taken today South coast UK. Bug about 4mm long not including ovipositor.
Shot taken at 3:1 and focus stacked from 2 shots.
Any ID ideas?
Thanks Brian V.
Posted by Jan Willem on 16-07-2006 16:16
#2
Hi Brian,
My guess would be that this is a member of the family Braconidae.
Jan Willem
Posted by LordV on 17-07-2006 21:58
#3
Thanks Jan :)
Brian V.
Posted by Paul Beuk on 18-07-2006 08:12
#4
Jan Willem, how about Alysiinae?
Posted by Jan Willem on 18-07-2006 08:38
#5
Hi Paul,
I don't think this one belongs to the Alysiinae. The mandibles don't seem alysiine-like to me. Furthermore I don't know any Alysiinae with such a narrow first abdominal segment! I'm thinking about Euphorinae, but that is nothing more than a wild guess.
Jan Willem
Posted by Robert Nash on 18-07-2006 08:55
#6
There is anOnline key:p:p beginning with the couplet Ichneumonidae/ Braconidae from the Wharton lab if you have a specimen Brian. I think we need the wing venation otherwise (and probably anyway so always try for a dorsal view). But I think this is one you know or you don't know.I don't.
http://hymenoptera.tamu.edu/keys/?taxcpl=cpl&taxcpl_id=2
The Wharton Lab keys are new to me. They are listed here
http://hymenoptera.tamu.edu/keys/
Anyone interested in Tephritidae might like the key on parasitoids of that family.
Robert
Posted by Jan Willem on 18-07-2006 12:36
#7
Hi,
Kees van Achterberg (specialist on Braconidae) confirmed my "wild guess". According to him it is probably a species of the genus
Meteorus [Braconidae: Eurphorinae].
Jan Willem
Posted by Robert Nash on 18-07-2006 13:01
#8
Hi, Very impressive Jan.Obviously a very well informed;) guess .We won't get any higher an authority than Kees so that's it -a species of the genus
Meteorus. Nice to have such a good photo.
Robert
Posted by Jan Willem on 18-07-2006 13:59
#9
Hi Robert,
Well, I have to admit that I am not entirely unfamiliar with braconids. I have been studying Dutch Opiinae under the supervision of Kees. However that was about 10 years ago. During the last 8 years I have not been studying Braconidae at all. But apparently I still remembered some of the things Kees tried to teach me.
Jan Willem
Posted by cthirion on 18-07-2006 16:09
#10
C van Achterberg thinks
Euphorinae Meteorus
Posted by Jan Willem on 18-07-2006 20:44
#11
Hi Cthirion,
Kees already told me that you also asked to give his opinion about this specimen! So did I :D
Jan Willem
Posted by LordV on 18-07-2006 22:09
#12
Thanks for all the ID help everyone.
Just for interest , think I might have snapped the male today. Well it looks similar anyway.
Edited by LordV on 18-07-2006 22:10
Posted by cthirion on 18-07-2006 22:34
#13
;):D!
Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 18-07-2006 22:38
#14
wow! so such impressive images!