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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » "Parasitica" - Parasitoid Wasps » Chalcidoid Wasps (Chalcidoidea) » Cleonymidae » Epistenia
Photo#788379
Which Cuckoo Wasp - Epistenia - female
Copyright © 2013 StevenBren

Which Cuckoo Wasp - Epistenia - Female
Nashville, Green Hills, Davidson County, Tennessee, USA
June 15, 2013
Size: ~10 mm
She is trying to force her ovipositor through 1/8' of dried bamboo to parasitize a Mason Wasp nest. She would not enter the tube even though it was still open. I guess it would turn out badly for her if she got caught. As long as she was outside, the Mason was oblivious to her.
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Contributed by StevenBren on 18 June, 2013 - 7:45am
Last updated 7 August, 2014 - 6:41pm

terrific! thanks guys
Moved from ID Request.
… v belov, 18 June, 2013 - 4:47pm login or register to post comments

Epistenia
Dr. Steve Heydon, who specializes on Pteromalidae, says that if the size is correctly estimated, this would be Epistenia coeruleata. The Universal Chalcidoidea database lists the Mason wasp, Leptochilus republicanus among the associates of Epistenia coeruleata here.
… Bob Carlson, 18 June, 2013 - 4:45pm login or register to post comments

 
Excellent!
Thank you very much.
… StevenBren, 18 June, 2013 - 4:57pm login or register to post comments

WOW!
Beautiful image!
… William Donald Newton, 18 June, 2013 - 8:47am login or register to post comments

 
WOW seconded
very cool thing, but the ovipositor says it's not an aculeate
… v belov, 18 June, 2013 - 9:03am login or register to post comments

 
Should I
Quote from "Taming of the Shrew" now?
… StevenBren, 18 June, 2013 - 9:10am login or register to post comments

 
Please do!
TIA
… William Donald Newton, 18 June, 2013 - 9:11am login or register to post comments

 
OK...
Petruchio: Who knows not where a wasp does wear his sting?
In his tail.
… StevenBren, 18 June, 2013 - 9:17am login or register to post comments

 
that 'his' thing is such an embarrassment to the Bard
or to his tail
… v belov, 18 June, 2013 - 9:47am login or register to post comments

 
Thanks!
I had a preoccupied subject, and that always helps in the bug world.
… StevenBren, 18 June, 2013 - 8:51am login or register to post comments

 
Know the feeling.
Perhaps Cleonymus sp.

… William Donald Newton, 18 June, 2013 - 8:59am login or register to post comments

 
ah! you're definitely up to something
great call
… v belov, 18 June, 2013 - 9:04am login or register to post comments

 
Cain't hep it. I was born that way.
… William Donald Newton, 18 June, 2013 - 9:09am login or register to post comments

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