Chrysis.net Forum

22 June 2021. c1000m. This wasp was very large for a chrysidid; perhaps 10mm or more. It seems distinctive so I hope someone can tell me the genus, and perhaps species? Photos not ideal because it stayed mostly on the far side of the Armeria flower. It arrived on the flower just in front of me and stayed almost 2 seconds! The third photo shows the sandy banks where I was. Thank you for any help!

Oh yes

Stilbum calens
It is the largest cuckoo wasp flying in Italy (together with Stilbum cyanurum and Parnopes grandior).

A real jewel

Fantastic. Thank you Paolo. I could not believe my eyes when it arrived; never seen a chrysidid so big and so bright (I’ve seen Parnopes grandior at a nearby site last year, and it is a wonderful wasp, but possibly not so remarkably jewel-like!). Beautiful and a new genus for me…
(I managed one more image yesterday which I will add to this post when I have resized it)

I saw Stilbum candens again at the same site the next day. Unfortunately it was in full sun so reflections have made the photo a bit blurry. Thanks again for the ID!