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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » "Parasitica" - Parasitoid Wasps » Chalcidoid Wasps (Chalcidoidea) » Torymidae
Photo#140082
Torymidae - female
Copyright © 2007 Beth Sands

Torymidae - Female
Manteca, San joaquin County, California, USA
August 26, 2007
Size: 1/2" with stinger
I was impressed by his red eyes and his long stinger for his little body . He was searching a bush leaf for food ? I have seen little wasps many times , but never one with such a pronounced stinger . What is this prong used for ? I saw another like him , but without the stinger . Thanks for I.D. help , sincerely Beth ... the newbie shutterbug
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Contributed by Beth Sands on 26 August, 2007 - 3:13pm
Last updated 3 January, 2010 - 1:41pm

Torymid Wasp (Torymidae) - female
These Chalcid Wasps often have an especially long ovipositor, because they parasitize host larvae sheltered in galls or oothecae, through which they have to legg their eggs. Red eyes are widespread in Torymid, Pteromalid and Eulophid Chalcidoidea.
… Richard Vernier, 26 August, 2007 - 4:40pm login or register to post comments

Not a stinger
The long structure is an ovipositor- the female's egg-laying apparatus. It's generally accepted that this developed into the stinger of stinging wasps- which is why only female bees, wasps and ants can sting.

All the stinging wasps apparently descended from one group of the slender-wasted wasps, but there are many related groups that this specimen could belong to. I have a hunch it's not in the Ichneumonoidea superfamily, but I don't know nearly enough to make any ID.
… Chuck Entz, 26 August, 2007 - 3:56pm login or register to post comments

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