Wood wasp or ?

N2ome · #1 (**permalink**) 23-05-2009, 10:15 AM

We had a visitor yesteday, a wasp like insect with a long thin brownish coloured body with little fawn coloured marks. Transparent wings and a very long thin sting or tail (i'm not sure).

I did take some photo's but they have not came out very clearly.

An amazing little thing - i say little - it was probably about 40mm long in body with the sting or tail about 60mm long.

It was great watching it under a magnifying glass cleaning its face etc.

Can anyone tell me what this insect was ?

I carefully lifted the insect and let it on its merry way.

galanthus · #2 (**permalink**) 23-05-2009, 10:20 AM

Just saw your title, yes sounds like a woodwasp or horntail........... is this it?

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/pi...hp?photo=27406

Acutipuerilis · #3 (**permalink**) 23-05-2009, 10:37 AM

With those proportions it sounds more like Rhyssa persuasoria or similar...
Ichneumon fly - Rhyssa persuasoria - Wildlife Photography

p.s. it is of course a wasp, rather than a fly as the title suggests!

galanthus · #4 (**permalink**) 23-05-2009, 11:29 AM

Misread original post soz, thought you meant the thing was 40mm and then 60mm including ovipositor ; not that the ovipositor was 60mm doh !! In that case Acutipuerilis seems spot on

N2ome · #5 (**permalink**) 24-05-2009, 01:04 PM

Thank you Acutipuerilis, I think you are correct.

I have found the exact same reference in a wildlife book we have.

Norman

p.s Thanks also to galanthus