I spotted this skinny bug in the jasmine this morning. I was chasing the blue-banded bee about with the Nikon D3000. Googling, I discovered this is most likely an orange caterpillar-parasite wasp – netelia producta.
Wikipedia has an interesting article on this wasp family…
The Ichneumonidae are a parasitoid wasp family within the order Hymenoptera. They are important parasitoids of other invertebrates; common hosts are larvae and pupae of Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera. Over 24,000 species have been described worldwide. Estimates of the total species range from 60,000 to over 100,000 – more than any other hymenopteran family.
Apparently these type of wasps caused Charles Darwin to question the existence of a benevolent God – unable to believe a kind God would create insects that fed on live caterpillars or have cats play with mice.
The white bands on the antennae probably indicate its female and the sting doubles as the ovipositer. While I was framing a shot, a bee landed on the same leaf and up went the stinger. Pity it wasn’t in focus – would have made a wonderful image. Not that I pressed the shutter. I was too busy jumping away. I thought that something so obvious might only be for show but I was a bit more careful afterward.
Thanks for looking. 🙂
Christine R 
Wow, haven’t seen anything like that before, it doesn’t look real.
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Love the morning light of the first two captures, especially the shadow of the wasp in the second one. How’s the book going, Christine?
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Thanks Olga. As to the book, I’m well and truly in my own way there! I’m still having the PC read each scene to me and I’m making the words flow. I’ve just set another deadline, after vowing never to do that again. Thanks for asking.
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It will come. Editing is definitely not fun, but a must. Hope all works out. 🙂
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Since I’m self-publishing, I have to be sure I’ve done the very best I can. I’m pleased with my progress – apart from the slowness. I keep chopping out words. It’s getting shorter.
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DON’T BE TOO HARD ON YOURSELF WITH THE EDITING. A READER IS NOT GOTING TO CONDEMN YOU IF YOUR PUNCTUATION IS A LITTLE SKEWIFF OR IF THERE IS AN EXTRA WORD HERE AND THERE. PLENTY OF “PROFESSIONAL” PUBLICATIONS HAVE ERRORS. THEY WANT A GOOD STORY NOT A GRAMMATICALLY PERFECT EDITION.
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Are you yelling at me Sue? LOL. I’m nearly there Sue. I have no intention of reworking any scene that is marked done – ever! IT’S PAST TIME I LET GO! So you can stop rolling your eyes now. 🙂
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whew
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