Chrysis.net Forum

Hello everyone,

I found yesterday a little Chrysis very peculiar, and I didn't find any species that matches with my specimen.

It looks like a Chrysis from ignita group but the shape of frontal carina and facial pit, and the coloration of second sternite are very strange.

In a mediterranean forest with a lot of mature oaks, at Saint-Paul-lez-Durance (south of France).

With the central part of mesoscutum darker than the sides, the ovipositor very stout, red coloration on second sternite and the elongated shape I believe it could be Chrysis obtusidens, but I don't know this species...

Dear Thibault,

thanks for your pictures and thoughts. Actually this is not a easily identifiable specimen.

I would exclude Chrysis obtusidens because its abdomen is flattened, seen in lateral view, the interval between the median teeth is wider and teeth are more triangular and less pointed; the punctation of the abdomen is sparser and shallower compared to your specimen, and the median area of mesoscutum is entirely dark blue.

I'm not sure about the ID of your specimen
Let's wait if someone else has other suggestions.

Thanks
Paolo