Red mite? and black fly for ID please

SilverW0lf · #1 (**permalink**) 14-07-2008, 10:01 AM

It's about 1-2mm, I'm guessing it's a red spider mite or velvet mite?

The body (not including antennae/tail) was about 1.5cm (I think!) any ideas?

I'm really beginning to see the limitations of my compact camera on shots like these

oxycera · #2 (**permalink**) 14-07-2008, 11:33 AM

The 'flies' are ichneumon wasps. The only WABBER brave enough to have a go at these seems to be Dogghound.

Dogghound · #3 (**permalink**) 14-07-2008, 06:42 PM

Interesting wasp, not one im aware of possibly from the ichneumon sub family Cryptinae.

SilverW0lf · #4 (**permalink**) 15-07-2008, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverW0lf

It's about 1-2mm, I'm guessing it's a red spider mite or velvet mite?

Just to compare, I found this picture online supposedly of a "Red Spider Mite"

This is FungiJohn's picture of a velvet mite...

To me, mine look more like Red Spider Mites, according to my Collins Nature Guide insects book:

"the Red Spider Mite (Panonychus ulmi) is darker and narrower at the head end" this seems to fit however

"on fruit trees" doesn't, I'm not aware of any fruit trees in ours, or our neighbours gardens