Ichneumon wasp ID and behaviour

Lord V · #1 (**permalink**) 06-09-2009, 07:22 AM

Spotted this Ichneumon wasp on the edge of a beech leef yesterday (South coast UK) about 13mm body length. It's behaviour was rather odd as it remained fairly stationary almost pointing at something. When i looked at the pics it seemed to be sensing an egg cluster on the underside of the leaf.

Brian V.

Jason Green · #2 (**permalink**) 06-09-2009, 11:22 AM

Hi LV,

Your wasp may be from the Anomaloninae sub-family. Being as though ichneumons are parasitic it may have known the eggs on the leaf's underside are ones it needs to parasitize?

Take care,

Jason

Dogghound · #3 (**permalink**) 06-09-2009, 01:29 PM

Yes definately Anomaloninae, looks like Agrypon. Perhaps it might have been preparing its ovipositor.

Lord V · #4 (**permalink**) 06-09-2009, 06:06 PM

Thanks Jason and Dogghound for the ID and behaviour suggestions.
Brian v.

Dogghound · #5 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 04:46 PM

Another thought that I had was that it had seen you so was keeping still?

Lord V · #6 (**permalink**) 09-09-2009, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Another thought that I had was that it had seen you so was keeping still?

With my limited experience of these I still would say no. They tend only to stay still when they are occupied with something, otherwise they are off at the slightest hint of danger.

Brian V