For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Gasteruptiidae - Wasps

The Gasteruptiidae family of wasps are small in body length and usually brown or black in color.
 They are easily identified by the abdomen arising from the top of the thorax and getting larger towards the tip. The females (as shown here) have a long ovipositor sometimes marked by a white tip.
 The hind portion (tibiae) of the leg is narrow at the base and swollen at the base. They are parasites of nests belonging to solitary wasps and bees.

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