Apocrita
Ichneumonidae
Ichneumon Wasps
The Ichneumon Wasps are an incredibly diverse group ranging in size from the very small to the very large. In Britain alone there are over 2000 species.
Ophion sp. - Cheshire, England - August 2009
Most members of both the Ophion (above) and Pimpla (below) genera are Koinobiont endoparasitoids of butterfly and moth larvae. These species lay their eggs inside a host larvae, which is at most only temporarily paralysed by the venom from the wasp's sting. The caterpillar then continues to develop while the wasp's larvae hatch and grow within its body. The caterpillar is eventually killed when the wasp's reach maturity.
Pimpla sp. - Cheshire, England - August 2009
Pimpla sp. - Cheshire, England - May 2009
Female ovipositing (probably a Lissonota sp.) - Cheshire, England - July 2007
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