Parnopes grandior, Val d’Arda (PC), N Italy, August 2020
Posted: 16 Sep 2020 12:31
For a change I’m not asking for an identification: this must be Parnopes grandior. Is it the easiest chrysidid to recognise? Of course, I didn’t know what it was until I’d searched to the end of the ‘species and thumbnails’ page here. It was seen in late August at about 1275m on the south side of M. Menegosa (Val d’Arda, PC, N Italy), where one small area of sandy substrate is used by nesting Philanthus and Bembix tarsata, also Halictis scabiosae. A footpath crosses the area, it is steeply sloping and liable to serious erosion by footsteps and water. It seems like a bad choice for nesting but I assume the substrate is favourable. Also present is Hedychrum rutilans, kindly identified in this forum (post on 21 August).
At first I didn’t recognise the Parnopes as a chrysidid, it appeared so much bigger than the Hedychrum, and the mainly red abdomen was different to the metallic carmine or magenta of many chrysidids. The large reddish-brown tegulae were very obvious in flight. It was very flighty and sudden in movements, often landing for less than one second before flying a few centimetres, and it would travel several metres in a very short time. It was very difficult to follow it up or down the mountainside. On another day I got a few images which are OK for record purposes, although not as close or clear as I would like (an objective for next year...!). Last seen on 26 August. One accidental shot of it in flight shows the antennae held vertically downward; I wondered if it might be able to sense proximity to host Bembix nests in this position?
Brian
At first I didn’t recognise the Parnopes as a chrysidid, it appeared so much bigger than the Hedychrum, and the mainly red abdomen was different to the metallic carmine or magenta of many chrysidids. The large reddish-brown tegulae were very obvious in flight. It was very flighty and sudden in movements, often landing for less than one second before flying a few centimetres, and it would travel several metres in a very short time. It was very difficult to follow it up or down the mountainside. On another day I got a few images which are OK for record purposes, although not as close or clear as I would like (an objective for next year...!). Last seen on 26 August. One accidental shot of it in flight shows the antennae held vertically downward; I wondered if it might be able to sense proximity to host Bembix nests in this position?
Brian