Ichneumon wasp

Really hard to identify, possibly Coelichneumon sp., maybe even Coelichneumon biannulatus, but I really wouldn't like to guess.

comments (11)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

That's a thick abdomen, about to lay eggs? Posted 3 years ago
1. Claire Hamilton
  
  Lion
  
  Ooh, I don't know, Ichneumons are very new to me. Posted 3 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    Found a UK species with the same body type: Achaius oratorius.
    https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Achaius_oratorius_-_Flickr_-_S._Rae.jpg
    
    Purely a visual search though. Posted 3 years ago
  2. 1. Claire Hamilton
      
      Lion
      
      Thanks Ferdy, I have looked at that one, but this one is lacking the white spot on the thorax.
      This one I think is closer:
      https://www.commanster.eu/Commanster/Insects/Bees/SuBees/Coelichneumon.biannulatus.html Posted 3 years ago, modified 3 years ago
    2. 1. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        A much better match indeed! I was looking at the white spots at the legs but upon a closer look, they are reflections. Posted 3 years ago
      2. Claire Hamilton
        
        Lion
        
        I have looked at the other photos from different angles and the white spots on the legs are there. Bad photos, so didn't upload them! Just not really confident enough with these insects. Posted 3 years ago
        
        Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Fully understand how that feels. Sometimes visual and location matching still does not lead to full confidence in the more difficult categories. In those cases I often try my luck in FB groups. Just have to find the right one :) Posted 3 years ago
        
        Claire Hamilton
        
        Lion
        
        Tried that, no luck, but will keep trying!
        Posted 3 years ago
        
        Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        And if that fails, there's the absolute last resort:
        http://v3.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?taxon=Coelichneumon&searchMenu=taxonomy&query=Coelichneumon
        
        But in this case that's still not easy lol. Posted 3 years ago
        
        Claire Hamilton
        
        Lion
        
        Oh crikey, it's mind boggling. I have just posted on Nature Spot, they seem to be pretty clued up!
        I also thought it could be Stenichneumon culpator.
        Think I will stick to birds, much easier! ;)
        Thanks for your help, appreciated. Posted 3 years ago