Unknown wasp ref W002 SP
Location: Alicante Spain
Date images taken 8th July 2016 at 11.30am
Believed to be in the Braconidae Family. (Latreille, 1829)
A Parasitic wasp, similar to the Pristaulacus species in America.
I have seen this species of wasp fly in groups close to the ground.
No doubt a female, with the very long ovipositor; I suspect this is for
reaching deeply-burrowed Coleoptera (The Beetle family) larvae in tree trunks.
Also, a long ovipositor would be an advantage to bypass a caterpillar’s defence mechanisms such as spines or hairs.
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David March.