Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Photo#288778
Wasp ID - Ceraphron

Wasp ID - Ceraphron
Norfolk, Virginia, USA
May 31, 2009
Size: ~1.5mm

Images of this individual: tag all
Wasp ID - Ceraphron Wasp ID - Ceraphron Wasp ID - Ceraphron

Moved
Moved from Ceraphronidae.

Here are the comments from Dr. Andy Deans at NCSU, who was kind enough to look at these images and comment as follows:

"That is definitely the genus Ceraphron, but at present it's difficult to provide a species determination. Ceraphronoids are rarely photographed alive (they're so small and easily overlooked), so it's great to see those photos. Thanks!"

 
Thanks Ken...
for your persistence in getting the ID! Thanks go to Dr. Deans and Dr. Gibson for confirming ID. Maybe I will find a wasp in the Subfamily Tetracampidae soon to fill that page :^)

 
Thank you -
for taking such great photos of some of our tiniest fellow creatures!

Moved
Moved from Tetracampidae.

Correction -
Dr. Gary Gibson was kind enough to take a look at these images for us and ID'd them as a ceraphronid wasp. He mentioned that he has also forwarded the image link to someone who is specializing in this family and might be able to identify the genus... Please let me know if there are any objections, but I'll move these for now over to Ceraphronidae.

P.S. I see that Eric had nailed this one earlier - good going!

Moved
Moved from Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies.

Moved to new family page, using the chapter in Gibson, et al. as a guide. May also be in subfamily Tetracampinae?? Feel free to correct or edit, Ross...

Tetracampidaeā€¦
Fits the description for this chalcid wasp subfamily including a large, bell-shaped pronotum, 12-segmented antennae, 1-2mm size, pubescent wings, a hairy propodeum, and 5-segmented tarsi. This group is very rarely seen. I could be wrong, of course, but I think a new guide page can be created for this subfamily of chalcids.

 
Thanks Ross...
This was a lucky find. I had to use a magnifying glass to see it with my old eyes!

Parasitica.
By the time I'm done keying specimens here at UMass, I may be able to ID this at least to family:-) Great images! Actually, my guess right now is Ceraphronidae.

 
Thanks Eric!
I'll leave these images here until you narrow the ID down further.