ichneumon id

col188 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-10-2009, 10:50 PM

Nearest Pimpla ?????
Col

Jason Green · #2 (**permalink**) 03-10-2009, 11:02 PM

Evening Colin

Yes, nearest. It's most likely from the Pimpilinae sub-family, in which Pimpla spp. fall inside it, taxonomically-speaking!

Take care,

Jason

ChrisR · #3 (**permalink**) 03-10-2009, 11:22 PM

Actually this is a good example of "not all black ichenumons with orange legs are Pimpla"

The first photo clearly shows a down-curved tip to the ovipositor, which is fairly diagnostic of Apechthis sp. ... probably compunctor, the commonest one in my experience.

Of course, Jason is correct - it is a pimpline ichneumonid, just from the overall appearance but it would take 20 minutes, a specimen and a good microscope to prove it!

.

col188 · #4 (**permalink**) 04-10-2009, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisR

Actually this is a good example of "not all black ichenumons with orange legs are Pimpla"

The first photo clearly shows a down-curved tip to the ovipositor, which is fairly diagnostic of Apechthis sp. ... probably compunctor, the commonest one in my experience.

Of course, Jason is correct - it is a pimpline ichneumonid, just from the overall appearance but it would take 20 minutes, a specimen and a good microscope to prove it!

.

Thanks Jason & Chris

Matches this pic pretty much spot on. I'd be happily inclined towards Apechthis compunctor

especially as all the leg is orange/yellow........ thanks again

Apechtis compunctor - Schlupfwespe 02 14mm-fdet03.jpg

Col

ChrisR · #5 (**permalink**) 04-10-2009, 02:31 PM

Yeah, it's one of those things that are fairly easy when you have seen them and keyed them through enough times. With mine I double-checked with Gavin Broad at the NHM and he said that no other ichneumon has this down-curved tip on the ovipositor. I think it is an adaptation for getting between the hard plates of lepidoptera pupae (the hosts)

PS: the name really should be "Apechthis" - I think the site you quoted has a typo - see here