ATANYCOLUS SP.

ATANYCOLUS SP.

Atanycolus sp.
BRACONID WASP FAMILY (Braconidae)

Click on each photo thumbnail to enlarge.

This Atanycolus wasp is about 3/8 inch long. The male appears to be all black in color. The antennae are long and black. They are distinctive to the genus in that the first segment is sharply excavated at both the base and the apex. The wings are a murky brown. The females generally have a red abdomen and a long ovipositor. This wasp was identified to genus by volunteer experts at the BugGuide website.

The frequency of occurrence is not known. They are found in woodland habitats. This male (Photo A) was photographed in Fontenelle Forest in late May 2013. The female shown in photo B was photographed in June 2016 at moth sheets in Fontenelle Forest.

Braconid wasps are parasites of woodboring insect larvae. Adults seldom visit flowers. There are 36 species in the genus Atanycolus.

The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Babs Padelford.