Thread subject: Diptera.info :: More small wasps
Posted by
LordV on 07-10-2006 16:18
#1
Caught more of these today mainly on my car- South coast UK
Any ideas?
Thanks Brian V.
body length about 2.6mm (not inc ovipositor)
Proctoss's avatar ? body length about 2.54mm
Is this a wasp ? body length about 1.0mm
Body length about 1.7mm
same as above

Edited by
LordV on 07-10-2006 17:39
Posted by
ChrisR on 07-10-2006 21:47
#2
My guesses:
1 - Torymidae
2 - Proctotrupidea
3 - Chalcidoidea but not sure which family
4 & 5 - Scelionidae?
#3
Perhaps so, perhaps not : Chalcidoidea ??????Aphelinidae...
#4
1 fig. - Torymidae
2 fig. - Exallonyx sp. (Proctotrupidae) my family !

3 fig. - Aphelinidae
4,5 fig. Scelionidae
my avatar see http://www.diptera.info/forum/viewthread.php?forum_id=6&thread_id=3697

other changes in ID see http://www.diptera.info/forum/viewthread.php?forum_id=6&thread_id=3679
Posted by
LordV on 08-10-2006 06:37
#5
Thanks Chris, cthirion and proctoss
I find these tiny wasps fascinating to photograph

Still not sure what the attraction of my car is though unless it just makes them easier to spot. I thought it might be fine aphid honeydew drops from a downwind tree but I checked my wife's car which is similar colour and parked nearer the tree and couldn't see any wasps whilst mine seems to get them every day at the moment between about 10am and 3pm.
Thanks again
Brian V
Posted by
ChrisR on 08-10-2006 09:12
#6
Mmm... Brian, maybe you can configure your wife's car to attract tachinids?
Seriously though, colour has been proven to be a major factor in attracting insects. Yellow and white plates are normally used as pan-traps when people want to attract flies or wasps.
Posted by
LordV on 08-10-2006 09:43
#7
Thanks for the info Chris

At the moment the car does seem to attract all sorts of bugs- small flies, psyllids, barklice, wasps and aphids and whilst my car is metallic silver my wifes car has a slight bluish tint to it

. Might try putting some coloured place mats on my car and see what the most popular colour is

. Anyway- not complaining it makes a great surface for doing fairly high mag shots on

Brian V.
Edited by
LordV on 08-10-2006 11:50