HYMENOPTERA > APOCRITA | Parasitica > Ichneumonidae > Ichneumoninae > Ichneumonini

One of the featured species on the NHM identification guide to British ichneumonids. Described as another medium to large (female 10mm, male 14mm) black and red or black and yellow species where the size, shape and precise colour patterns are distinctive.

The female abdomen has a wide red band followed by a narrower black band, a second narrower red band and then black until the white stripe just before the tip. The males are longer with broad white bands across the abdomen at the hind edges of the segments, with conspicuous indentations on the bands of the second and third segments. The bands on the first and fourth segments are usually broken. Both sexes have hind femora tipped with black.

As one of the better-known ichneumon species it has recently been named the White-striped Darwin Wasp in an attempt to raise awareness and hopefully improve recording. Whether these new common names will catch on, only time will tell.