Jewel Wasp & Mason Wasp for ID

tigger · #1 (**permalink**) 10-05-2011, 06:44 PM

Hi. I could really do with some help with the ID of two wasps seen today in my Dorset garden:

Jewel wasp. Possibly Chrysis sp. (poss C. ignata - can see toothed end of abdomen?). This wasp was checking out the really dead wood in my bee/wasp hotel today.

Mason wasp. Possibly Odynerus spinipes female? This wasp was seen hunting in the flower bed this afternoon. Very smart/medium sized wasp. Dark wings and well defined yellow stripes on abdomen.

Many thanks.

Jane

tameblackbirds · #2 (**permalink**) 10-05-2011, 06:59 PM

only here to say what striking wasps not seen them before great images too

tigger · #3 (**permalink**) 10-05-2011, 07:04 PM

Thanks! I love Jewel wasps - they really knock you out when you see them. The colours are unreal (if you painted it, people would say you had made the colours up!). The other wasp is a new one on me - so I'm hoping someone can help me with an ID. It was a very handsome wasp on the patrol in the flowerbeds.

Cheers. Jane

Matt Smith · #4 (**permalink**) 10-05-2011, 08:23 PM

Best that can be done with the Jewel Wasp is "Chrysis sp." the toothed abdomen is of little help as all of our Chrysis species have a toothed end to the abdomen to one degree or another. A full ID needs a specimen and a microscope, and even then it is not easy, or possible.

Not sure about the Eumenid wasp, I though perhaps Gymnomerus laevipes from the pattern but the head does not look right (not "square" enough) for that species.

tigger · #5 (**permalink**) 10-05-2011, 08:34 PM

Hi Matt. Thanks! Thought I was being a bit optimistic with the C. ignata suggestion

Chrysis sp. is just fine with me.

I thought the same to start with on the other one, but having looked at photos of Gymnomerus laevipes I decided the head was the wrong shape, also thought it was probably far more likely to be Odynerus spinipes (as they are more common)?

Thanks. Jane

Jason Green · #6 (**permalink**) 10-05-2011, 11:29 PM

Morning Jane,

I love those Chrysidids! Great to have them back. As regards the Eumenine, I picked up a very similar-looking specimen a few weeks back. When I get enough time to get it under the microscope and identify it I'll let you know what it comes up as. Not as an identification for yours as such, but just to provide a possibility. As Matt says the head doesn't look particularly square and from what I can see it has a fair Odynerus look to it.

Take care,

Jason