wasp/ichneumon id please

[Naturenutz]

Not sure on this one,looks waspish can anyone id please. It had 2 yellow dots on the top of the thorax.

[Flowerpotwoman]

Looks very like a Field Digger Wasp, Mellinus arvensis?

[Naturenutz]

thanks for your reply.heres another photo from another angle .it looks slightly different to field digger wasps ive browsed on the net.

[Flowerpotwoman]

I am looking at a photograph and reference in the 'Complete British Wildlife' ( Collins) book by Paul Sterry. The distinctive 'waisted' abdomen seems to be key to identifying it next to an ordinary wasp.
Today, while tidying my garden, I found nest holes in a bank of soil and saw these wasps dragging flies into the holes. They have distinctive glossy black and yellow stripes. I will look out for the dots on the thorax.
Nice photos by the way.

[lync]

Try googling Ancistrocerus (need microscope for specific id).

[mickmassie]

Is this the same one perhaps ?



This one was gathering mud.

Mick.

[lync]

Same genus, looks like it. There are a number of related Eumenid genera, Odynerus and Symmorphus most likely to be seen as well as Ancistrocerus.

[mickmassie]

Thanks, I know it is not conclusive but Chinery says 'Ancistrocerus nigricornis: Reddish tarsi and conspicuous black spot at front of abdomen'. Seems to match up.
M.

[lync]

Originally Posted by mickmassie

Thanks, I know it is not conclusive but Chinery says 'Ancistrocerus nigricornis: Reddish tarsi and conspicuous black spot at front of abdomen'. Seems to match up.
M.

Very unlikely, and a false assumption made before on WAB. These wasps simply have to be keyed out properly and even then they're tricky.

[charlieb]

Originally Posted by lync

and a false assumption made before on WAB.

Chinery's books are great, but I wish they would come with a "there are x number of similar species that can't be ID without" etc.