Thread subject: Diptera.info :: More small wasps

Posted by LordV on 07-10-2006 17:18
#1

Caught more of these today mainly on my car- South coast UK
Any ideas?

Thanks Brian V.

body length about 2.6mm (not inc ovipositor)

static.flickr.com/86/263013571_c03af1e3de_o.jpg

Proctoss's avatar ? body length about 2.54mm

static.flickr.com/115/263013572_f777c47b66_o.jpg

Is this a wasp ? body length about 1.0mm

static.flickr.com/112/263013574_5eb9743eed_o.jpg

Body length about 1.7mm

static.flickr.com/91/263013576_fdd79d410d_o.jpg

same as above

static.flickr.com/98/263013578_0d4850f2c4_o.jpg

Edited by LordV on 07-10-2006 18:39

Posted by ChrisR on 07-10-2006 22:47
#2

My guesses:
1 - Torymidae
2 - Proctotrupidea
3 - Chalcidoidea but not sure which family
4 & 5 - Scelionidae?

Posted by cthirion on 07-10-2006 23:26
#3

Perhaps so, perhaps not : Chalcidoidea ??????Aphelinidae...

Posted by proctoss on 08-10-2006 00:01
#4

1 fig. - Torymidae
2 fig. - Exallonyx sp. (Proctotrupidae) my family !:)
3 fig. - Aphelinidae
4,5 fig. Scelionidae

my avatar see http://www.diptera.info/forum/viewthread.php?forum_id=6&thread_id=3697 ;)
other changes in ID see http://www.diptera.info/forum/viewthread.php?forum_id=6&thread_id=3679

Edited by proctoss on 08-10-2006 00:06

Posted by LordV on 08-10-2006 07:37
#5

Thanks Chris, cthirion and proctoss
I find these tiny wasps fascinating to photograph :)
Still not sure what the attraction of my car is though unless it just makes them easier to spot. I thought it might be fine aphid honeydew drops from a downwind tree but I checked my wife's car which is similar colour and parked nearer the tree and couldn't see any wasps whilst mine seems to get them every day at the moment between about 10am and 3pm.
Thanks again
Brian V

Posted by ChrisR on 08-10-2006 10:12
#6

Mmm... Brian, maybe you can configure your wife's car to attract tachinids? ;)

Seriously though, colour has been proven to be a major factor in attracting insects. Yellow and white plates are normally used as pan-traps when people want to attract flies or wasps.

Posted by LordV on 08-10-2006 10:43
#7

Thanks for the info Chris :)
At the moment the car does seem to attract all sorts of bugs- small flies, psyllids, barklice, wasps and aphids and whilst my car is metallic silver my wifes car has a slight bluish tint to it :). Might try putting some coloured place mats on my car and see what the most popular colour is :). Anyway- not complaining it makes a great surface for doing fairly high mag shots on :)
Brian V.

Edited by LordV on 08-10-2006 12:50