Ichneumon suspiciosus.
This is a widespread and common species.
Habitat: A very diverse species which can be found in a wide range of habitats.
Ichneumon suspiciosus: favours umbel flowers, especially hogweed in summer months.
This is one of many similar species of Ichneumon, the images below relate exactly to the same images of Ichneumon suspiciosus (female) in the book “Insects of Britain and Western Europe” by Michael Chinery. I have seen other images of “I. suspiciosus” on the internet and some do differ in having yellow, instead of the red markings. For now, I will go with the knowledge of Michael Chinery.
An endoparasite of swift moth larvae and various noctuid caterpillars. Adults overwinter by hibernating, just like queen bees and wasps.
This is one of the most common species of Ichneumon. As it is a parasitic insect, the female inserts her long sharp ovipositor into the body of the host to deposit her egg (usually one egg into the larvae of a beetle or caterpillar). Young ichneumons are mostly internal parasites, consuming the host from the inside; usually ending up killing the host by the time they are ready to pupate and become adult ichneumons.
Ichneumons are related to bees and wasps, with a long ovipositor which could easily be mistaken for a stinger. generally speaking they are harmless to humans.
The name “ichneumon” comes from Greek words meaning “tracker” and “footprint,” and the females of these parasitic wasps track down and hunt for their various host species.
Ichneumon’s are classed as beneficial insects, as they are effective predators of tomato hornworms, boll weevils and wood borers; which are considered as pests.