please help identify - in my baby son's room

lesleyhope · #1 (**permalink**) 27-06-2011, 10:03 AM

Hi, these came in the open window and it looks like there may be several more outside - what are they and are they and are they friend or foe? Sorry they are squashed!

iminei · #2 (**permalink**) 27-06-2011, 11:37 AM

ooohh, nasty looking stingy things!
sorry don't know what they are, there are lots of flying ants at the mo.

lesleyhope · #3 (**permalink**) 27-06-2011, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lesleyhope

Hi, these came in the open window and it looks like there may be several more outside - what are they and are they and are they friend or foe? Sorry they are squashed!

Hi, they are about the size of a flying ant but have an oval solid rear body like an ant, are red-brown, have what looks like a sting at the back, transparent wings. they were pretty dopy and easy to squash, not like a wasp or fly.

ddangus · #4 (**permalink**) 27-06-2011, 12:17 PM

Hard to tell from the image but they might be Ichneumonid wasps (harmless to humans and vertebrates). The sting you can see is the ovipostor for laying eggs in larvae of other insects. Ichneumonid wasp normally explore /search areas and are less active than wasps. So definetly a friend.
Did they look similar to this ?

Diptera.info - Discussion Forum: Ichneumonid

lesleyhope · #5 (**permalink**) 27-06-2011, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddangus

Hard to tell from the image but they might be Ichneumonid wasps (harmless to humans and vertebrates). The sting you can see is the ovipostor for laying eggs in larvae of other insects. Ichneumonid wasp normally explore /search areas and are less active than wasps. So definetly a friend.
Did they look similar to this ?

Diptera.info - Discussion Forum: Ichneumonid

Hi, that's quite like them. I feel really bad now, they were probably nice to have around!