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North Apennines: genus or species identification possible?

PostPosted: 19 Jul 2019 10:16
by briang
I watched and tried to photograph some chrysidid wasps on 1st July 2019 near to Teruzzi (PC) in the northern Apennines (Emilia Romagna, Italy), on the lower slopes of M. Menegosa. There seemed to be 3 or 4 different types in total. This is my second post (my first was on 14 July). As before, I would really like to know the genus, and if possible, the species! This was smaller than others, c 6mm (estimated).

As requested in Forum guidelines, I add a few notes. Monte Menegosa is an outcrop of ophiolitic rocks, rising to over 1300m. The wasps were seen (c 1000m) along the edge of a rocky path with some areas of loose sandy soil (with nesting hymenoptera). There are woods below the track and open grassy slopes above it. The wasps were very active, moving fast from leaf to leaf and from plant to plant. Sometimes they appeared to feed from an exudate from the plant (sorry, I don't know the species). There might be 2 or 3 wasps in front of me, then they would all vanish, and in 15 minutes wasps would again be present.

Re: North Apennines: genus or species identification possibl

PostPosted: 19 Jul 2019 17:11
by jeromec
Nice picture : it is a Chrysis, succincta group. I can not say any more.

Re: North Apennines: genus or species identification possibl

PostPosted: 19 Jul 2019 17:20
by briang
Jerome, thank you for a useful answer! And very quick also. I will check out the succincta group but I'm content with "Chrysis sp.". Merci.
PS. I think the plant they were so interested in must be some kind of Euphorbia.

Re: North Apennines: genus or species identification possibl

PostPosted: 21 Jul 2019 21:41
by Euchroeus
Hi All,

yes, Jerome is right, it's the male of Chrysis bicolor, a quite common species in that area.