challenging id

[galanthus]

I've just seen an odd looking flying insect in the garden, my camera is on tripod upstairs so no pics soz In flight it was shaped similarly to a plume moth or crane fly wing-wise, however, it seemed to glide rather than fly and the two back legs were held rigidly in an upside down v shape at all times, kind of dangling from it and they seemed to be orange/red and yellow ? The whole colouring was quite orange ish. Would not settle for me to see antenae. I've been right through my insect book now and can't find one; possibly cos they are all at rest and this was flying. Any ideas where to start ? I've been through all the crane fly in the Gallery

[Jez]

All the best with this one Galanthus. I saw something similar to a crane fly last year. Defo legs like a daddy long legs, wings folded, shiny turquoise body and a red head! You wouldn't know that one would you?

[galanthus]

Ooh I hate not knowing what something is The best way of describing this is that if I was to draw it in flight from behind, I would would draw an upside down v with a horizontal line on top, seemed quite distinctive. Lesson learned, grab camera immediately on arrival home from work even if it is only a quick coffee by the pond !

[Jez]

Orangey/yellow familiars to the common daddy long legs that i have come up with are Ctenophoria ornata which is also called daddy long legs has small feathered antennae, orange legs and a yellow orange abdomen & thorax similar to a wasp- RARE in the British Isles? Spotted Crane Fly- dark legs like its bigger cousin orangey coloured Ab/Thorax MOST OF EUROPE. Yellow Ophion also most of Europe and theres one other but not sure of its range & that's Hanging Fly but again i'm not sure if this is belongs in Britain? I know how you feel i also hate it esp when your hard searching leads to no avail.

[Andy Warne]

The dangling orange legs made me think of an insect I saw on holiday in Pembrokeshire which I never identified, I have subsequently seen one locally.
Was it anything like this? It looked really odd because it flew quite slowly and the legs just dangled down.

[galanthus]

Yes Andy that's definately it there, feel better now, just need someone to id the pic. thought Jez's yellow ophion seemed very similar. thanks both for the help. what a fab forum

[Jez]

Glad you found it! Still on the search for mine!!

[Andy Warne]

Glad that's the one. I hope someone can identify it for us, I couldn't find it any of my books.

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by Andy Warne

Glad that's the one. I hope someone can identify it for us, I couldn't find it any of my books.

Its definately a species of Ichneumon parasitic Wasp, cannot find an exact match in my books but its something similar to Pimpla hypochondriaca, there are several species that look like this, sorry I cant be more specific but it may help your search.

Steve.

[galanthus]

many thanx fourwings, that explains why I couldn't find it from the crane fly bit then Never seen one before,very interesting.