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Crown Wasp (female)

Megischus bicolor

Photo by SukanyaDatta
Published on Project Noah
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22.5726, 88.3639

Field Notes

Description:

Black. Looks mantis-like.Reduced wings but flies strongly. Long ovipositor.

Habitat:

Terrace top potted plant.

Notes:

https://indiabiodiversity.org/observation/show/350365
https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7870738

http://insectsunlocked.org/2016/06/19/crown-wasp/
Family Stephanidae...

She parasitizes wood-boring beetle larvae by injecting eggs with her ovipositor.

Reference Links:

Stephanidae - Wikipedia, - Megischus bicolor - BugGuide.Net

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (7)
SukanyaDatta
Hi Lauren...my compact camera that is like the extension of my hand has completely folded and the bridge camera that I use is heavy...holding the leaf steady with one hand and photographing with another was difficult and I was hoping the reduced wings meant it could NOT fly...no such luck. But wasn't it nice for your treehoppers and my crown wasp to drop in at home! Thanks for the appreciation of the spotting.
SukanyaDatta
Thanks Brian38. I was totally zapped for a few moments when I saw this.
LaurenZarate
So neat! My weird treehopper family turned up in my own garden also! I have great hopes to find one of these wasps someday. The first picture I saw of one of these wasps, I thought it couldn't be real, it had to have been photoshopped!
Brian38
Love this one SukanyaDatta! Great spotting!
SukanyaDatta
Thanks Lauren. It was a new òne for me ...had a great time trying to find an I.D....and to think it turned up in my home!

Spotted for Missions

Mission
WILD Cities: Urban Biodiversity
Mission
2018 Best Wildlife Photo
Photographed
PublishedNovember 9, 2018

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