Diptera.info

Posted by Juergen Peters on 24-10-2007 02:23

Hello!

For this one I don't even have an idea about the family. Found on September-17 at the wall of our house (Ostwestfalen/Germany), size about 5 mm. Any hint appreciated, thanks in advance!

Posted by Paul Beuk on 28-10-2007 10:01

Has a male antish appearance, but not like the most regular ones.

Posted by Christian Schmid-Egger on 28-10-2007 10:53

I also think that it is an ant (Formicidae).

Regards, Christian

Posted by Juergen Peters on 28-10-2007 20:00

Hello!

Many thanks to you all! I must admit that my first impression of this was of "something antish like", the second thought was: "or is it an ant???", but at last I thought: "no, this can't be an ant because of the unkinked antennae"...

Edited by Juergen Peters on 28-10-2007 20:01

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 28-10-2007 23:12

#10

I know there are males with almost straight antennas, but never with this appearance - i mean with beads!!! :| Almost all ants have elbowed antennae exception to the males. But these antennae are very unusual. :S

Posted by Paul Beuk on 29-10-2007 00:20

#11

I was not worried about the antennae but mor the general shape of the head with the bulgy eyes.

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 29-10-2007 00:22

#12

i suspect that it is some kind of an obscure wasp. I might be wrong though.

Posted by cthirion on 29-10-2007 00:45

#13

First Formicoidea ... I have large doubts because of the shape of the head too!

no lateral view?

Posted by Juergen Peters on 29-10-2007 01:34

#14

Hello!

cthirion wrote:
no lateral view?

Unfortunately not. I mostly try to get also lateral shots of the animals, but in this case it was difficult from it's position. It appeared rather flat to me - another reason, why I did not think of an ant finally.

Posted by Andre Jas on 04-11-2007 12:47

#16

Hi Juergen,

I'm absolutely not sure but it looks like Bethylidae to me. I'd even say maybe, just maybe a Goniozus sp???

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 04-11-2007 18:34

#17

hmm.. the propose of Bethylidae wasp seems to me much better. :)

Posted by Juergen Peters on 04-11-2007 23:59

#18

Hello, Andre!

Andre Jas wrote:
I'm absolutely not sure but it looks like Bethylidae to me. I'd even say maybe, just maybe a Goniozus sp???

Thanks for your reply! I must admit I have never heard of that family ;), just have to check what I can find about it.

Posted by Juergen Peters on 05-11-2007 00:11

#19

Hello!

Juergen Peters wrote:
just have to check what I can find about it.

I see it's a very interesting group ranging from parasitism to primitive social behaviour. If it is Goniozus: there is only one species listed in our region, Goniozus claripennis, parasitizing on lepidoptera larva (Tortricidae, Pyralidae etc.).

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 05-11-2007 00:38

#20

Juergen... I posted before here some Bethylidae wasps. Check it out. :)

Posted by Paul Beuk on 05-11-2007 09:46

#21

Stop fooling around with Bethylidae: The wing venation is far too elaborate for that family. :P

Posted by Christian Schmid-Egger on 06-11-2007 18:33

#22

Its interesting where the discussion moved on. To bring it back to a fundamental knowledge base, I did ask the leading specialist for ants in Germany, Bernhard Seifert. He said that is a male ant, and the species probably is Myrmica scabrinodis Nylander.

Regards, Christian

Posted by Juergen Peters on 06-11-2007 22:09

#23

Hello, Christian!

Christian Schmid-Egger wrote:
Its interesting where the discussion moved on. To bring it back to a fundamental knowledge base, I did ask the leading specialist for ants in Germany, Bernhard Seifert. He said that is a male ant, and the species probably is Myrmica scabrinodis Nylander.

So it's only a "trivial" animal... ;) Thanks nevertheless!