Spring is ichneumon? It's already here!
To the best of my knowledge it's a male ichneumon. They were flying around up in a willow, so I couldn't get a close look & this was the best shot.
Correct iD welcome.
This must be a different strider than the previous one. It is much smaller, about 5 or 6mm.
Muddyvalley wrote:
Spring is ichneumon? It's already here!
To the best of my knowledge it's a male ichneumon. They were flying around up in a willow, so I couldn't get a close look & this was the best shot.
Correct iD welcome.
This must be a different strider than the previous one. It is much smaller, about 5 or 6mm.
With something like 3100 species of Icneumónidae, it makes it unlikely that it can be IDed to species if not in hand. From a photo, not likely.
This, tho looks to be Casinària sp.
A probable female. There is no long ovipositor in many, and this is one.
These are the ones that may 'sting'. Not a true sting, just a short, sharp, spinelike ovipositor.
Many press it against your skin if handled, and it is sharp, but no venom. They parisitise a wide variety of insects.
Water striders are true bugs.
They go thru many molts to become adults.
This one looks to be a nymph. You need it in hand to examine the wing buds to tell adult from nymph. Once an adult it can be IDed more easily. Nymphs may start out life only a couple mm's, growing to about 18mm or so.
CAUTION. These 'sting'. Realy a 'bite'. They inject a venom and enzymes to dissolve flesh. Then they suck out the 'soup'.
The sting is unpleasant and necrotic.
Bill
nice catch, reminds me of a ditty........do your legs hang low........
newtoyou wrote:
With something like 3100 species of Icneumónidae, it makes it unlikely that it can be IDed to species if not in hand. From a photo, not likely.
This, tho looks to be Casinària sp.
A probable female. There is no long ovipositor in many, and this is one.
These are the ones that may 'sting'. Not a true sting, just a short, sharp, spinelike ovipositor.
Many press it against your skin if handled, and it is sharp, but no venom. They parisitise a wide variety of insects.
Water striders are true bugs.
They go thru many molts to become adults.
This one looks to be a nymph. You need it in hand to examine the wing buds to tell adult from nymph. Once an adult it can be IDed more easily. Nymphs may start out life only a couple mm's, growing to about 18mm or so.
CAUTION. These 'sting'. Realy a 'bite'. They inject a venom and enzymes to dissolve flesh. Then they suck out the 'soup'.
The sting is unpleasant and necrotic.
Bill
With something like 3100 species of Icneumónidae, ... (
show quote)
Thanks Bill! I was stabbed by a much larger species of strider in Florida once. It wasn't pleasant.
If you want to reply, then
register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.