Photographed this wasp a few days ago. I think it might be a digger wasp (Sphecidae) or perhaps a Ichneumonid (although it lacks the long ovipostiter). Anyone want to confirm one family of the other? Better still if you know the genus! I have two pics. Here's the first.
and the second.
Todd, agree it's not an Ichneumonid...it's close to being the Great Golden Digger Wasp but yours has the white banding on the abdomen, perhaps it's a M/F difference? http://davesgarden.com/bf/go/649/
I have searched high and low, the nearest I can find is a Paper Wasp in the genus Polistes
http://aolsearch.aol.co.uk/image_browse?query='paper%20wasp'&first=&last=&imgurl=http://whatsthatbug.com/images/paper_wasp_polistes.jpg&refurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwhatsthatbug.com%2Fwasps.html&width=216&height=252&requestId=ffbe7dc876805184&clickedItemRank=1&encquery='paper%20wasp'&page=6
This site has links (scroll down) to many pictures of each family, I have looked at the Hymenoptera and it is confusing,
http://galerie-insecte.org/galerie/fichier.php
Looking at the Identifying Characteristics for different Hymenoptera I came to a conclusion that is POSSIBLY belongs to Vespidae, if you can understand what the terms mean! Links to others at the bottom
http://eny3005.ifas.ufl.edu/lab1/Hymenoptera/Vespid.htm
The long abdomen with the distinctive striping reminds me of one of the Tiphiidae, aka a flower wasp. I don't recall seeing one with the black and white striping though, just yellow and black. Here is a link to a specimen that is similar to yours in that is also has colored wings. The tiphiids I see more commonly have clear wings.
http://insects.tamu.edu/images/insects/common/images/cd-43-c-txt/cimg345.html
FM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiphiidae
It looks like an ichneumon wasp, several here
http://www.pbase.com/tmurray74/ichneumon_wasps
Having spent a lot of time looking at many wasps, I think Wallaby might be right in they being Ichneumonids. I didn't realize it when I posted, but the two pics are actually two different species if you look carefully! I expect they are males, hence the lack of the long ovipositer. Guess I'll have to forget getting a genus and species. There are just too many parasitic wasps!
One would think one would have better things to do with one's time, wouldn't one?
Funnily, I didn't see the difference for a start because the wings were over the second one's back, although I think I did count the stripes! It has more stripes.
My thoughts are the same, if they can't get a species I don't think we will, but that isn't necessarily true!
Can an entry be made with just the genus and 'sp' added, there are similar entries in PF.
Do we know a genus? Ichneumonids belong to a mix of genera and I still don't know which genus my mysteries belong to. I actually have a third pic taken on the same flowers and its yet another species based on the number of rings and leg colour.
Hmm, good point, I think I was thinking it could be an 'Ichneumon' as that is what they are referring them to, but that is possibly a general term use for Ichneumonids.
Give me some time, and I will look, for a start here is some info
http://cirrusimage.com/hymenoptera_ichneumonidae.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichneumon_wasp
Identifying characteristics, taking note of the mention of separation from "those in Braconidae by having two, rather than one or zero recurrent veins" Do you understand that? Which veins?
http://eny3005.ifas.ufl.edu/lab1/Hymenoptera/Ichneumonid.htm
Some stripy examples to compare, still Ichneumons. A spider wasp also (has a name)
http://www.robsplants.com/critters/beez.php
This states they have no vernacular names, as it is such a large group. There is a list of their prey.
http://natl.ifas.ufl.edu/Wasps.htm
So, does that mean they can be entered as simply Ichneumon? You have 3, only about 59, 997 to go!
