More Id required please

[reefbirder]

Hi, Looking for some identification and confirmation on a few wasps/flies seen in Cornwall last week.

a) pretty certain on this one - Conopsflavipes

b) Fairly certain on this one - Ammophila sabulosa, is this the same as the wasps I see at Thursley common I wonder?

c) possibly an Ichnuemon fly, really not sure but quite an impressive beast


d) - Not a clue as to family even


And guidance would be great - I have posted a lot recently, but you guys seem to enjoy it - lol

Rob

[Rambling Rob]

Your last photo, they look like sawflies to me, Rob

[JRsbugs]

Conops flavipes female is correct for the first.

Last one Sciaridae, Sciara hemerobioides.

[reefbirder]

Hi JRbugs,

Thanks for your help on these - would love to put a name to the others as well.
I saw your website and wow nice photos. I too find taking the photos and spending time trying to identify them is great fun and really helps to increase knowledge, I only post the ones I am stuck on! I have been birding for about 25 years and know my dragonflies and butterflies pretty well too. But just got a new Canon and suddenly I want to photograph all the plants and insects and other wriggleys and put a name to them, but the first thing I learnt was - my gosh! there are a lot of them!

Rob

[JRsbugs]

Thanks Rob. It is mind boggling when you realise how many different species we have under our noses, a good camera is certainly the best encouragement there is to find them! The world transforms from knowing about a few butterflies, observing the occasional moth and seeing greenbottles, bluebottles and house flies to many thousands of insects!

Solitary wasps are many and difficult, but I agree the first one is most likely Ammophila sabulosa.. check the photo on this site, hover the arrow over it and the blue tinge on the tail is mentioned.

I haven't come across anything like the other wasp, it will be Ichneumonidae and I agree it is an impressive beast!

There's a lot of photos on HYMIS

Check out an experts site, Camille Thirion.

You can join the HYMIS Forum where experts might be able to help.

[JRsbugs]

I had a brief look at some of the smaller families on Camille's site, soon found a fairly good match for your last wasp!

Therion circumflexum, but I can't say for sure.

Laboratoire: Insectes et environnement

Therion circumflexum | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

It is here..

NBN Gateway - interactive species mapper

[reefbirder]

Thanks for that,

I will check that later.
I have just been to Denbie's Hillside and got my first Adonis Blue - stunning!

Rob

[reefbirder]

Thats the one, thank you so much.