AuthorPrehn, N. & Raper, C.
Year2017
TitleBeginner’s guide to identifying British ichneumonids
TypeDownload
How CompleteOverview with selected easy-to-identify species.
Sourcehttp://www.nhm.ac.uk/content/dam/nhmwww/take-part/identify-nature/british-ichneumonid-wasps-id-guide.pdf
IllustrationsColour photographs
Review (by Malcolm Storey)

An expanded version of this nicely-produced introduction to identifying British ichneumonidae.

The ichneumonidae are notorious for having a few body patterns which are repeated across a large number of very similar species, often not even closely related. These include

completely pale brownish orange (mostly nocturnal)
black body with red legs.
black with 2 yellow basal tergites, yellow scutellum and yellow bands on legs.
black with 2 or 3 red basal tergites, often with a white antennal band, white scutellum and/or a white blaze on the last few tergites towards the abdomen tip.
Of necessity the guide only covers a few species of this enormous family so beware of shoe-horning your finds into the species illustrated. Expect less than 10% of your finds to match.

Website urlwww.nhm.ac.uk/content/dam/nhmwww/take-part/identify-nature/british-ichneumonid-wasps-id-guide.pdf

Notes & PurposeStatusTaxonEnglishClassification
For identificationCurrentICHNEUMONIDAEichneumon waspsAnimalia: Hymenoptera
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