Ichneumonid Wasp

A striking black and white Wasp with white rings around the eyes. The legs are yellow-brown, except for the hind tarsi, which are white. The black antennae have a white band just past the midline. The first 3 pictures are of the female, with a robust ovipositor as long as the abdomen. The last 3 pictures are of the male which was photographed 2 days later on 12 July 18, in the same area. There are minor differences in coloring between them, especially on the lateral areas of the thorax. They are both about 1.3 cm in length. Family Ichneumonidae. These wasps are parasitoids of the larvae of other insects, especially Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and other Hymenoptera and always kill their hosts.