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Hello,

this insect visited me in my house on January 24th 2011 in Luebeck, Northern Germany. As outside we have had temperatures always below zero, I think it might perhaps have spent winter somewhere in the house?

Any idea what it is?

Length without antennae ca 10 mm.

Thanks & regards
Chris

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same insect, other pic

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Vespidae: Emeninae: Ancistrocerus sp. male. Impossible to get species name without study under microscope.
Libor

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Hello!



At this time of the year in Germany only Ancistrocerus nigricornis possible (only species that overwinters as adult). I found the first one here (sunbathing outside (!) the house) on February-14: http://insektenfo...adid=39894

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Thanks Libor and Jürgen.
When Libor pointed me to Ancistrocerus I came to the same conclusion that there's only one species possible here in January, A. nigricornis (= melanocerus).
Thanks, and have a good Sunday
Chris

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A. nigricornis has very specific 2nd sternum from side view: fore part is formed by an angle of ca. 90 degrees. This animal has 2nd sternum almost straight = if I see well no chance for A. nigricornis, but very probably A. gazella or A. parietum. If you wish to be sure, send the animal to me...
Libor

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Good point, Libor. I also noted that my animal did not have the 90 degree angle in the 2nd sternum as it can be seen on other photographs of this species. But I thought maybe this might be a matter of perspective or of how the wasp holds it body... because as to the time of the year, I also find that no other Ancistrocerus should be possible in Germany in winter. Ancistrocerus parietum and Ancistrocerus gazella should not fly before May and not after October... do you have different information?
Thanks, and have a good Sunday
Chris

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I know gazella from March...
Libor

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Hi Libor,
I fully understand your point as to the pattern of the 2nd sternum of this animal which does not fit for A. nigricornis. On the other hand, A. gazella at the earliest in March is definitely something different from the middle of January when this animal was showing up. Which brings me to the question:
Would you think that A. gazella might fly even in January? Perhaps if it winters inside a house and finds good & warm conditions so that it might come out two or three months earlier? Or would you say, no, it always takes its given time to grow and fly, then we might face the problem of an Ancistrocerus which does show an untypical sternum pattern (which means in the end that the sternum angle is not a totally reliable charcteristic)...
Any idea?
Thanks a lot and have a good day
Chris

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Chris, I do not know, which Ancistrocerus can hiberante as adults in central and western Europe... If you kept this animal, send it to me or prepare more pictures of the 2nd sternum. Only after exact ID we can try to find any solution of your problem, OK?
Libor

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Hi Libor, thanks for your reply. No, I didn't keep the animal, the only thing I can do is post a bigger pic of what we already have seen.
But thanks anyway,
best regards
Chris

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Hello, Libor!



After Christian Schmid-Egger in Germany only A. nigricornis. That is, why this was my first (and only) idea, although the markings on the abdomen seemed untypical (but these may be variable).