Wasp banded wings 2mm

[JRsbugs]

Hi,

Small wasps with banded wings seem to be trend at the moment.

I spent some time studying my Oak tree trunk yesterday in our balmy near 20C, a stark contrast to today's 9.5C! It appeared to have little on it, but I kept seeing new things. I really went to look for my Luffia ferchaultella!

This tiny wasp was very difficult to photograph, when not in a crevice it was running searching for food I guess. So these pics are taken running.

Maximum length 2mm with wings. Any clues appreciated.

Janet

[ChrisR]

It's a tricky one but I'd say it's either a chalcid or a proctotrupoid - but I can't really see enough to be sure

[JRsbugs]

Originally Posted by ChrisR

It's a tricky one but I'd say it's either a chalcid or a proctotrupoid - but I can't really see enough to be sure

Thanks Chris, I had thought it resembled a Chalcid, they seem to have a certain shape head and eyes. Going now to check out proctotrupoid.

[ChrisR]

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

Thanks Chris, I had thought it resembled a Chalcid, they seem to have a certain shape head and eyes. Going now to check out proctotrupoid.

Well, there's just something about the way it holds the antennae and the head that makes me wonder if it is one of the procto groups - like bethylids, diapriids or proctos themselves

[JRsbugs]

Originally Posted by ChrisR

Well, there's just something about the way it holds the antennae and the head that makes me wonder if it is one of the procto groups - like bethylids, diapriids or proctos themselves

Hum, more fodder to search out..

I found some examples of Proctotrupidae, the antennae do look chunky and long but so far not quite like mine.

In the very blurred pic with it going downards, the antennae look very long, well over half the length of the body. For chunky antennae that might give a clue?

[JRsbugs]

Aha, Diapriid wasps seem to have the antennae low down on the head. Mine looks to be low down too, are we on the right track now?

PaDIL

[ChrisR]

Yes, I think all of those groups can have those odd-shaped heads with antennae fixed low

[JRsbugs]

The family Platygastridae looks close, could this be a contender?

Family Platygastridae - BugGuide.Net

[ChrisR]

Certainly another possibility but really I think you have to admit defeat because the lack of certainty and the number of possible (very similar) species makes any name just a wild stab in the dark

[JRsbugs]

Originally Posted by ChrisR

Certainly another possibility but really I think you have to admit defeat because the lack of certainty and the number of possible (very similar) species makes any name just a wild stab in the dark

Yep, was getting to that point myself! Unless I come across one with banded wings which looks very similar I think I'm stuck....thanks anyway.