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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Wasp? with very long ovipositor. (1 Viewer)

halftwo

Wird Batcher
Last few days a couple of wasp-like (sorry I'm not too hot on insects) insects have been inspecting the dead wood (pergola & tree stump) nearby.
Blue-grey (or just grey) with a wasp-like abdomen & a very long ovipositor , tipped whitish, held at an angle to abdomen.
Whole insect only c.1-2cm. long (plus ovip., c.1cm)& with q.fat & floppy antenae (stiped?). Longish legs. Flies slowly within a milimetre or two of the wood with antenae touching/virtually touching the wood. Appears to be searching for grubs within the wood to lay in.
This is in Cheshire.
Any ideas? Is this unusual?
H
 
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Brian - fantastic - that's it! Didn't hold much hope to get it down to species.
What a great name too! Gasteruption jaculator - you couldn't make it up.
Thanks guys.
BTW - is it a ichneumon type?
I take it they're common?

H
 
If it's not let's change it!
Would it drill through the wood to get at the grubs? Presumably it can 'smell' them inside.
 
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