Ichneumon suspiciosus

Description

Approximately 16 mm long. One of many ichneumon wasps that look very similar. Males and females have different colours and patterns. Females have a band of orange-yellow on the abdomen with a black tip that has white spots on the last three segments. Males have a yellow and black abdomen without the white spots. Both have a black head and thorax with a yellow scutellum and with yellow hind tibia that have a black apical band.

 

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

It isn't possible to identify this species from photos - a specimen must be keyed.

Habitat

Hedgerows, woodland rides, parks, gardens, and meadows. Often seen on the flowers of Umbellifers.

When to see it

May to September

Life History

The female lays her eggs into the caterpillars of butterflies and moths particularly the Swift Moth and the larvae feed on the body of the host when they hatch.

UK Status

Fairly frequent in England but few records from elsewhere in Britain.

VC55 Status

Thoght to be fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
Bees, Wasps, Ants
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Hymenoptera
Family:
Ichneumonidae
Records on NatureSpot:
3
First record:
27/08/2015 (Nightingale, Kate)
Last record:
14/06/2020 (Skevington, Mark)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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