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| 1 | 2 |  » Stats |
Members: 50,153
Threads: 82,342
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Top Poster: glsammy (15,069)
| | Welcome to our newest member, Xalrahc | |  | 
30-07-2010, 04:52 PM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 18
| | | Wingless Wasp? Ant mimic ID
Hi
Whilst collecting a few ants to ID this afternoon I bought home an "ant" which is clearly not an ant. It is shiny black and 3.5mm long. It has a black body which resembles a slightly elongated ant but without any petiole. It has no obvious sting or ovipositor. Its legs are long and orange. The front legs have rather broad dark tibia which look like muscly thighs! All of the tibiae and Femura are broad and rounded. The antennae are straight and simple with 9 or 10 segments. It is wingless. The head is dominated by huge bulbous eyes. It has biting mouthparts which are not particularly large. The mandibles are rather longer than they are deep. It was found on dry sandy soil in full sun in Northamptonshire.
The ants I did find nearby were Lasius flavus and L niger but the only association with ants was that it rather looked like one.
I can only assume that is is some sort of wasp but can't find anything like it in Chinery and don't have any other books with wasps in. Are there any other wingless insects which look hymenoptera-ish which I am missing?
Has anyone got any idea what it might be? I have it here in alcohol so can answer any questions if that helps.
Many thanks
Ian  |
30-07-2010, 05:22 PM
|  | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London
Posts: 11,830
| | | Re: Wingless Wasp? Ant mimic ID
Afternoon Ian,
Glad to see the approach. Can we have a photo? The description has made me doubt my original suggestion, and consider one or two others.
Take care, Jason  |
30-07-2010, 06:44 PM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 18
| | | Re: Wingless Wasp? Ant mimic ID
Hi Jason
I'm not set up to take pics through the microscope I'm afraid so this is the best I can do with a 3.5mm specimen.   
Hopefully you can at least see the size of the eyes and the general jizz of the beast. One antenna is missing I'm afraid.
Cheers
Ian |
30-07-2010, 07:03 PM
| | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London
Posts: 11,830
| | | Re: Wingless Wasp? Ant mimic ID
Thanks Ian, very helpful. It's a type of wasp, but I have no idea which family. Try the HyMIS forum - and please update us with an ID!  |
30-07-2010, 07:09 PM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 18
| | | Re: Wingless Wasp? Ant mimic ID
Thanks Jason
Wasp is a start but still leaves me with a fair few species :-)
I'll ask around and see if I can find a local wasp expert!
Cheers
Ian |
31-07-2010, 10:27 PM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 18
| | | Re: Wingless Wasp? Ant mimic ID
I've put a request on Hymis so I'll let you know if I get any suggestions.
Many thanks
Ian | | |
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