5 replies to this topic

[Alacom]

Was tending to my Liometopum occidentale ants since they are the only ones not hibernating that I have currently, and when I finish up I see this very small winged insect somewhat near their test tube setup. It’s about the same size of their workers, looks kind of like a wasp drone but has a rather large gaster compared to the rest of its body, and was found in my garage in conditions unfavorable for any nuptial flight. I’m really just confused on what it is and how it got there because I’ve never seen an ant this shiny green and small flying in the cold. Even if it is a wasp, is it a male or a female and why would it be flying at the start of November???

Note: found in Modesto, CA

https://imgur.com/gallery/J7a1e0p

Edited by Alacom, November 1 2020 - 2:00 AM.

[Manitobant]

Some kind of wasp. Its a female because of the long ovipositor on the end.

[Deia]

https://en.wikipedia...ki/Chalcid_wasp

 

Probably one of those. I get these in my apartment all the time, they're harmless to humans and the ants seem to love eating them.

[ponerinecat]

Some sorta ichneumons wasp most likely. I don't know my wasps very well though, could also be a eucharitid or something.

[Alacom]

Thanks everyone

[gcsnelling]

Definitely a parasitic wasp, but I can not dredge the name out of the depths of my memory. Not an ichneumonid though.