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Photo#575501
Parasitic Wasp? - Brachymeria tegularis

Parasitic Wasp? - Brachymeria tegularis
Sunrise Ridge Trail, Olympic National Park,, Clallam County, Washington, USA
September 11, 2011
Size: 4.5-5 mm
While I was photographing a Nisquallia olympica pair mate guarding, this tiny wasp (I think) swooped in, touched down on the female's head and swooped away again. The contact lasted much less than a second.

Even zooming in, I can't see any hint of halteres, so I'm guessing a parasitic wasp.
It could be just a coincidence, but the landing sure looked directed.
I have no images of the right side of that female's head, so I don't know if there was an egg there.

Any hint of an ID? (If not, the image can be frassed.)

We did also see a dead female Nisquallia that had been hollowed out, possibly by a parasite.

Moved
Moved from Chalcid Wasps.

Brachymeria tegularis…
These are hyperparasitoids of common grasshoppers (through sarcophid and tachinid flies). More commonly found in western states. Great find.

See reference here.

 
Wow!
Thank you.
I found a reference to Brachonids parasitizing fly parasites on orthopterans.
This is an excellent addition to my studies of Nisquallia. (Now, if only I could find the fly parasite!)

Moved for expert attention
Moved from ID Request.

Guessing something in Chalcididae. Let's see if the experts agree.

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