A rather nice chalcid wasp

Lord Vetinari

Think this must be the most beautiful chalcid wasp I've seen. About 2.6 mm body length (not including the ovipositor). Taken on the underside of a rhododendron leaf.

Brian V.

Skippy

Lord Vetinari wrote:

Think this must be the most beautiful chalcid wasp I've seen. About 2.6 mm body length (not including the ovipositor). Taken on the underside of a rhododendron leaf.

Brian V.

It is beautiful, love the colours and shape of it's body.
I particularly like the second shot.
Is the body translucent? or are those colours on the outside.
Looks like you can see through it from that shot.

I hope you find more of these to photograph Brian.

Beautifully captured ... Skippy
.

canon400d

Skippy wrote:

It is beautiful, love the colours and shape of it's body.
I particularly like the second shot.
Is the body translucent? or are those colours on the outside.
Looks like you can see through it from that shot.

I hope you find more of these to photograph Brian.

Beautifully captured ... Skippy
.

Couple of fantastic shots Brian I love the colours in 2.
Regards
Bob

Lord Vetinari

THanks Skippy and Bob for looking and commenting

Skippy- these wasps have a very metallic type dimpled finish. I think the colouring is interference colouring not simply reflections as different species do have different colours. I've certainly not seen this one before.

Brian v.