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Photo#132491
Ensign Wasp - Hyptia

Ensign Wasp - Hyptia
Groton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA
July 30, 2007

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Ensign Wasp - Hyptia Ensign Wasp - Hyptia Ensign Wasp - Hyptia Ensign Wasp - Hyptia Ensign Wasp - Hyptia Ensign Wasp - Hyptia Ensign Wasp - Hyptia Ensign Wasp - Hyptia

Hyptia
This is indeed Hyptia. See Evanioidea Online for more information on these insects.

Unfortunately, this great series lacks a good view of the mesopleuron (side of thorax) which appears to be important in determining species. However, I would guess that this is either H. harpyoides or H. reticulata.

 
mesopleuron picture added
Is it good enough to identify the wasp to species?

 
Hmm
Still not sure, I'm no expert on these by any means. Look at the key here and see what you think. Seems like it lacks the fovea near the back corner but its hard to be sure.

 
It's too tough for me to call
I don't think it has the fovea, and the one I found today looks like it does have fovea on the mesopleuron. Maybe that one can be identified.

Moved
Moved from Ensign Wasps.

Moved
Moved from Brachygaster.
Brachygaster isn't listed in Neartica. Hyptia looks like it might be a synonym. For now while I'm not certain of the North American genus, I'll place it in the family page for now.

Thanks Richard
These are good little wasps to have around:-)

Genus Brachygaster
As evidenced by reduced wing veination and heavily punctured integuments of head and mesosome. Among the smallest - and the Northernmost - of the Enseign Wasps, they parasitze egg cases of small wood cockroaches - Ectobius and related genera. They are the only Enseign Wasp found wild here in Western Switzerland.

Stephen
I hadn't seen any of these Ensign Wasps before, and didn't think it was a chalcid, but had no idea what else it could be. Thanks for another id!

 
Welcome.
The shape is so distinctive, it's unmistakable once you've seen one. I haven't seen one myself, but hope to do so someday :-)

No...
reminds me more of an Evaniid - Ensign Wasp.

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