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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » parasitic Apocrita » Braconids and Ichneumons (Ichneumonoidea) » Braconid Wasps (Braconidae) » Agathidinae
Photo#153659
Wasp Ovipositing - female
Copyright © 2007 Preston Scott Justis

Wasp Ovipositing - Female
Norfolk, Virginia, USA
October 21, 2007
Size: 6-7mm (body length)
I believe this is an Ichnuemon wasp. This wasp has two 'tubes' used during ovipositing. I know one is for transfer of eggs, but what is the other for?
It looks like a long stinger of some kind.

Scott

Images of this individual: tag all
Wasp Ovipositing - female Wasp Ovipositing - female
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Contributed by Preston Scott Justis on 24 October, 2007 - 9:14am
Last updated 24 October, 2007 - 2:31pm

Bassus s. s.
I have just consulted with Dr. Mike Sharkey (my graduate advisor and an expert on agathidine braconids at the University of Kentucky)and he identifies this as belonging to the genus Bassus sensu stricto. This is based on the following logic. There are three main agathidine genera with the "long face" (Agathus, Bassus, and Cremnops). Agathus is almost always entirely black, whereas Bassus and Cremnops are red & black. Cremnops has a carina extending from the lateral margin of the antenna to the lateral ocelli. The carina is absent in Bassus. There are other characters but these are the easiest to see in these images.
… Ray Fisher, 15 November, 2007 - 12:25pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks for the info Ray.....
These were the best two images in a short series taken of this busy little wasp.
… Preston Scott Justis, 16 November, 2007 - 8:05am login or register to post comments

Sheath.
The black tube is, I believe, the sheath for the ovipositor. This specimen is a braconid wasp in the subfamily Agathinae. Very nice images.
… Eric R. Eaton, 24 October, 2007 - 12:33pm login or register to post comments

 
The only time
this little wasp would stay still was when it was ovipositing. Then when it finished, it was constantly on the move and hard to get in the viewfinder.

Thanks again for for your help and compliment!

Scott
… Preston Scott Justis, 24 October, 2007 - 2:24pm login or register to post comments

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