Chrysis coeruleiventris, Val d’Arda (PC), Italy

[briang]

10 June 2023. N Apennines. In the past couple of years I have found this species at three different sites in the upper Val d’Arda (I’m indebted to Paolo Rosa for giving me the initial ID on this forum). A few days ago I visited a particularly good site for chrysidids when the sun came out in the late afternoon after a day of heavy cloud and rain. There was a lot of chrysidid activity - it seemed that they had just emerged from shelter. Among them was this Chrysis coeruleiventris which, happily, stood still for several seconds while cleaning itself and (apparently) stretching. I am posting some images from this period. The usual red colour on the thorax appears tinged with orange because of the low sun which was unfortunately lighting the far side of the wasp.
Brian.