Gasterupteron jaculator
e6filmuser
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This wasp is in the family Gasteruptiidae, next to Ichneumonidae. Their larvae feed on the stores provided in the nests of solitary bees, and are, thus, cleptoparasites (shoplifters!). This species is restricted to England in the UK.The smaller species G. assectator is found throughout the British Isles.
There was a lot of feeding activity at the beginning of August. I usually see these wasps on Goldenrod flowers but those are late this year, just opening now. These were on my favorite (for finding insects) white umbellifer, giving us the high contrast of a dark brown to black wasp on white flowers.
I though I had a surplus of shots of males but the best images are 50/50 male/female. They were all shot with the same lens but at various magnifications. None has been cropped to an unusual degree. I present the ladies first, followed by the males. This species holds it abdomen at various angles in relation to the thorax and head, presenting problems of the plane of focus. The extremely long ovipositor of the female makes this even more difficult.
EM-1. Kiron 105 f16, twin TTL RC flash, hand-held.
Harold
There was a lot of feeding activity at the beginning of August. I usually see these wasps on Goldenrod flowers but those are late this year, just opening now. These were on my favorite (for finding insects) white umbellifer, giving us the high contrast of a dark brown to black wasp on white flowers.
I though I had a surplus of shots of males but the best images are 50/50 male/female. They were all shot with the same lens but at various magnifications. None has been cropped to an unusual degree. I present the ladies first, followed by the males. This species holds it abdomen at various angles in relation to the thorax and head, presenting problems of the plane of focus. The extremely long ovipositor of the female makes this even more difficult.
EM-1. Kiron 105 f16, twin TTL RC flash, hand-held.
Harold
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