This is a robust, colorful Ichneumon wasp approximately one inch in length (25 mm). It is almost identical in appearance to Trogus vulpinus. The thorax, head, abdomen and legs are bright orange. The antennae are light brown. The wings are black with a bluish tint. This Ichneumon wasp was identified by a volunteer expert from the BugGuide website.
This wasp is probably common in this area. This wasp was first photographed in Fontenelle Forest in late August of 2008.
Trogus sp. wasps are parasitoids of butterfly larvae, especially Black Swallowtails and Tiger Swallowtails in our area, and have been observed emerging from the pupae of these butterflies (click here for more information). There are 6 species in the Trogus genus in North America.
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