Unidentified wasp

[Bruce Williams]

This was taken back in June at The Stony Stratford Nature Reserve.

This wasp was inspecting? a small hole in a stone monument near the car park. Help with identification appreciated.



Bruce

[Jason Green]

Hi Bruce,

I think it's a conopid fly, a wasp imitator. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong

[eucera]

This is a female Eumenid wasp sealing a nest cell. I suspect a species of Ancistrocerus, but I really am not 100% certain

[Bruce Williams]

Thanks for the suggestion Jason however I have several pics of this insect and you can just discern that there are two pairs of wings (even on this pic if you look really hard . Unfortunately the other pics are from similar angles and reveal very little extra info except that there is at least one more black and yellow band at the end of the abdomen (curled under in this image).

Stuart - Thanks for your help. Having spent a good hour Googling on your suggestion I am certain that you are right with "species of Ancistrocerus", however (as I'm sure you know) frustratingly there are several very similar species. I have eliminated a few on markings and so far have earmarked at least two species as possibles (based on appearance only). They are A. nigricornis and A. parietinus......and no doubt there are other possibilities .

Bruce

[oxycera]

Hi Bruce,

Tempting as it is to use the distinctive yellow markings, a key feature of sorting out Ancistrocerus concerns features on the underside of the abdomen.
Having said that, parientinus would be a reasonable guess.