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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » "Parasitica" - Parasitoid Wasps » Braconid and Ichneumonid Wasps (Ichneumonoidea) » Ichneumonid Wasps (Ichneumonidae) » Hover Fly Parasitoid Wasps (Diplazontinae) » Diplazon » Common Hover Fly Parasitoid Wasp (Diplazon laetatorius)
Photo#397899
Ichneumon Wasp? - Diplazon laetatorius - female
Copyright © 2010 Marcia A. Sessions

Ichneumon Wasp? - Diplazon laetatorius - Female
Greenville, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA
May 14, 2010
Size: ~5/16"
This very tiny wasp seems similar to two others I submitted in the past. They were classified as Ichneumonidae. The specific species of one was identified Ichneumonidae Cryptinae (it's in the Guide section). This one seems similar, yet different, just as the other two were. Any chance on further identification?

Images of this individual: tag all
Ichneumon Wasp? - Diplazon laetatorius - female Ichneumon Wasp? - Diplazon laetatorius - female Ichneumon Wasp? - Diplazon laetatorius - female Ichneumon Wasp? - Diplazon laetatorius - female
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Contributed by Marcia A. Sessions on 19 May, 2010 - 2:44pm

Moved
The coloration of the hind tibia does not show clearly in these photos, but there is enough of the terminal orange in a couple of them to confirm its identity as Diplazon laetatorius. There are aphids in this photo, and she was searching for syrphid predators thereof.

Moved from ID Request.
… Bob Carlson, 19 May, 2010 - 3:03pm login or register to post comments

Do Not Move
Error. Please do not move.
… Marcia A. Sessions, 19 May, 2010 - 2:47pm login or register to post comments

 
-
Sorry; I didn't see this until I moved the photos.
… Bob Carlson, 19 May, 2010 - 3:11pm login or register to post comments

 
Sorry; I didn't see this until I moved the photos.
No, I'm glad you did move them as well as identify them! I made a mistake by moving them, I don't even know where they were moved to. So, your Move and ID need to remain and my comments need to be deleted, but I don't know how to do that.

Many thanks, Bob. I've just learned A LOT from your ID and description. I didn't know that Hover Fly larva feed on aphids. I just spotted them on the day of these photos. Ladybugs are in short supply, here in Rhode Island, it seems. To finish my thread of learning, the female wasp is searching for Hover Fly larva to parasitize. Thus, the wasp is a pest as it preys on Hover Fly larva, which are beneficial because they eat aphids?
… Marcia A. Sessions, 19 May, 2010 - 3:26pm login or register to post comments

 
Pest
Depends, I guess, on whether the aphids are feeding on a crop plant/ ornamental or not. If the aphids were feeding on a weed species, then you might want the aphids protected from the hover fly larvae.
… Bob Carlson, 19 May, 2010 - 3:58pm login or register to post comments

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