Ichneumon wasp ID

Lord V · #1 (**permalink**) 12-09-2009, 07:42 AM

Not seen this Ichneumon wasp before - about 13mm body length. Taken yesterday - only the third shot with my new Tamron 90mm macro lens. My old sigma 105 workhorse seems to be having intermittant aperture problems.
Any idea on ID - seems to have fairly unusual white patch markings.

Thanks Brian v.

Jason Green · #2 (**permalink**) 12-09-2009, 08:44 AM

Hello Brian,

I think it's an Ichneumoninae sub-family member - not sure exactly which! Good luck with the new lens.

Take care,

Jason

Dogghound · #3 (**permalink**) 13-09-2009, 08:29 AM

LOOKS like Coelichneumon desinatorius .

Monkey Orchid · #4 (**permalink**) 13-09-2009, 10:12 AM

Wow, what a weird coincidence. I was just about to post a picture which looks like the same thing:

Not nearly as good a photo as yours, Brian - it was rather a snatched shot, on a windy afternoon. I thought ichneumon; initially wondered about Amblyteles armatorius (because that was the nearest thing to it in Chinery), then checked out Coelichneumon desinatorius as suggested here... Then I saw Achaius oratorius on an ichneumon web page... Now I'm really confused!

What do people think I should go for?

The ichneumon web page I was looking at is:

Ichneumonidae - Ichneumoninae

Jason Green · #5 (**permalink**) 13-09-2009, 11:00 AM

Hi MO,

I'd go with C. desinatorius I think. Amblyteles armatorius is black like yours, but with yellow markings as opposed to the white.

Take care,

Jason

JRsbugs · #6 (**permalink**) 13-09-2009, 01:40 PM

If the pics on this site are correct Iwould say it's Stenichneumon militarius

Ichneumonidae - Ichneumoninae

Another pic on here:

INSECTES14ter-3-1

I'm assuming the white on the tail end is just glare. If not, then look at Achaius oratorius but that looks to have white on the face next to the eyes.

Achaius oratorius

Monkey Orchid, yours looks like Achaius oratorius

Schlupfwespen (Ichneumonidae)

Janet

Lord V · #7 (**permalink**) 14-09-2009, 06:59 AM

Thanks for the suggestions so far

The white patch on the abdomen tip is not flash glare.
Should have known there'd be quite a few similar Ichneumons

Brian V.

Monkey Orchid · #8 (**permalink**) 15-09-2009, 06:58 AM

Thank you for the help, folks. Think I'm going to go with Achaius oratorius for the time being...

col188 · #9 (**permalink**) 15-09-2009, 03:07 PM

.......And i've one in the camera, very similar, must be the time of year for them. Thought mine was a spider hunter, as it quartered the window frame in the garage (home to quite a few spiders), ignoring the open door to fly away.

Post it later.
Thanks for the links JRsrbugs they're great

Col