Bethylid wasp - Pseudisobrachium

Narrower ID - Genus Pseudisobrachium

Based on the very short antennal segments, the parallel-sized head, but above all on the typical, peculiar thoracical segmentation. What I first mistook for an Ant's petiolus is actually the propodeum.
Finding out the species will be another matter, altough P. carolinianum could be the only one in New Hampshire.

… Richard Vernier, 20 May, 2006 - 5:58am

Thank you, Richard.

P. ashmeadi and P. rufiventre are the only species on the UNH checklist for New Hampshire. Could it be one of those?

… Jim McClarin, 20 May, 2006 - 9:50am

Yes

Especially P. rufiventre, since there is a conspicuous color difference between the abdomen and the rest of the body. But one cannot be conclusive without seeing reference specimens. It would seem that this intriguing genus has very many species, some of them still undescribed.

… Richard Vernier, 20 May, 2006 - 11:52am

Question:

Are they all flightless all the time or does only one sex fly?

… Jim McClarin, 20 May, 2006 - 1:35pm

(late) answer:

Males of most, if not all species, are "normal" dark Bethylid wasps who fly and have normal compound eyes, instead of being virtually blind. As a result, sexual dimorphism is extreme and often makes very difficult to "pair" isolated specimens, until both sexes are seen mating: most species are known by only one gender.

… Richard Vernier, 22 May, 2006 - 12:29am

Thanks, Richard.

I'll refer to it as a "she" from now on :-)

… Jim McClarin, 22 May, 2006 - 4:53am

Unusual-looking Bethylid wasp

A female of the subfamily Pristocerinae, maybe genus Pristocera itself. First, I thought this was a Legionary ant queen, but as she was alone I had doubts and counted the antennal segments. There are thirteen of them.

… Richard Vernier, 19 May, 2006 - 8:42am

My thanks, Richard.

That's a hoot! It's a good thing I didn't wager any money on it. You've got to admit, though, that it has some affinities with the skinnier rove beetles, especially seen by an untrained novice such as me :-)

… Jim McClarin, 19 May, 2006 - 5:04pm

Moved to Guide Page.

Moved to the existing guide page for the subfamily. Great images, and very nice to have an ID, Richard (and William Erickson)! Thank you.

… Eric R. Eaton, 19 May, 2006 - 3:27pm

Thank you for moving this deceptive little wasp, Eric.

Tom Murray already has one, apparently of a different species, on the family page. He gets out more than I do.

… Jim McClarin, 19 May, 2006 - 5:08pm