Parasitic wasps (numerous families)
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TimL
wrote:
6 Nov 2025
Thanks @WendyEM As you say, these are tiny wasps and usually very active, so the process is to use a fast shutter speed together with diffused flash which usually produces sharp, bright, evenly lit images. To get most of the wasp into focus it also helps to use an aperture size that gives a depth of field appropriate for the wasp's size and to try and take the images looking straight on at the wasp either from the side or from above such that the insect falls within the depth of field. Makes all the difference. NatureMapr's DSLR photography guide provides some advice on this subject. Hope this helps. Tim
Torymidae (family)
WendyEM
wrote:
6 Nov 2025
thanks Tim. Great photos! I had photographed one of these tiny wasps in a flower here (s Vic) the day before. Great photos considering size and energy of these fellas.
Torymidae (family)
MichaelMulvaney
wrote:
28 Oct 2025
It will be on the hunt for a moth caterpillar in which it will use its long black needle "stinger" or ovipositor to lay her eggs in. The eggs hatch inside the alive caterpillar and the wasp larvae slowly eat their way out. Pretty gruesome.
Lissopimpla excelsa
KimberiRP
wrote:
19 Sep 2025
I suggest Aulacidae, although I can't find any image that matches it.
Aulacidae (family)
Significant sightings
- Cardiochilinae sp. (subfamily) at Hall, ACT
- Cynipoidea (superfamily) at Melba, ACT
- Mesochorinae (subfamily) at Melba, ACT
- Temelucha sp. (genus) at Cook, ACT
- Phanerotoma sp. (genus) at Melba, ACT
- Diplazon laetatorius at Florey, ACT
- Ichneumonidae (family) at Hackett, ACT
- Figitidae (Family) at Casey, ACT
- Agamerion cleptideum at Bruce, ACT
- Tetramesa sp. (genus) at Molonglo River Reserve
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