ID help for a newbie?

[n0vice]

Hi guys and gals, wondering if anyone knows what this is?



I pretty much know nothing about insects and the like, so I apologise if it's something really common and boring but I couldn't find anything on google using a description. Oh and the quality is rubbish since it's a 3.2mp camera phone.

[Dogghound]

Its an Ichneumon Wasp. Looks like a Pimpla species but very worn and damaged, would be impossible to tell which. These are parasites of caterpillars with the adult sensing out the caterpillar buy tasting for chemicals given off by the caterpillar it does this with its antennae. It then lays eggs in its host which is still alive. These eggs develop and hatch into larvae which feed on the caterpillar first on its fat reserves before moving onto its internal organs, once there is nothing left inside they burst through the sides of the caterpillar (Still alive remember) then form a cocoon and pupate then the adult hatches out and the cycle goes on.

So definately not Boring.

Welcome to WAB.

[n0vice]

Oooh never thought about it being a wasp, very interesting, thanks for that Also interesting that you noted it was worn and damaged since it had been there for hours not moving, dunno if it was dead or on it's last legs, poor thing, I think the dog ate it in the end...