Pholetesor circumscriptus

This microgastrine braconid is the thelytokous Pholetesor circumscriptus (Nees) was found, on 23rd September 2011, patrolling around Horse-chestnut leaves that were infested with Cameraria ohridella mines.

Pauesia infulata

I was puzzled when this ichneumon appeared inside a bag containing a Horse-chestnut leaf. I was hoping for a Colastes braconius (parasitoid of Cameraria ohridella) but knew immediately that the wing venation here was too simple. I emailed the image to Andrew Polaszek who suggested that this was in fact an aphidiine braconid i.e. a primary parasitoid of aphids. This group has very reduced wing venation in general, with fusion of the "ground plan" cells. Bill Ely examined the specimen and identified it as one of the Pauesia genus, probably Pauesia infulata.

Ctenopelmatine

This Ctenopelmatine was found at Timble Ings, VC64, on 11/6/2011.

I understand that they are usually parasitoids of saw-fly larvae and this one was flying over bilberry.

Hemigastrini

This little ichneumon, from Timble Ings on 11/6/2011, is a male Cryptine from the tribe Hemigastrini.

It is awaiting specific identification.

Glypta extincta

When I visited Timble Ings, VC64, on 11th June 2011 I found a couple of these branchine ichneumons flying around the bilberry.

Bill Ely tells me that it is Glypta (Conoblasta) extincta.

A Common Lizard, basking on a dry stone wall, was another highlight of this Saturday morning excursion.

Isadelphus inimicus

This male ichneumon was found seasching the bark of a Sycamore tree at Hollins Hall, Baildon VC64, on 11th June 2011.

Bill Ely tells me that it seems to be Isadelphus inimicus but it has black mandibles rather than yellow.

Male ichneumons are less easy to identify than females and this could be one of the other Isadelphus species.

Megastylus suecicus

An ichneumon found in my Baildon garden on 9th June 2011 was sent to Bill Ely who tells me that it belongs to the subfamily Orthocentrinae and the tribe Helictini and to the genus Megastylus.

Bill says that he has used a draft key and the specimen runs to Megastylus suecicus.