Insect found at Rufus Stone in the New Forest

[P Wren]

I wonder if anyone could help identify this insect which I spotted and photographed at Rufus Stone in the New Forest on Sunday 27th April.

I've seen hornet before but this didn't look like a hornet, it seemed to have too much Leg-age but it's body and abdomen were over an inch in length.

I apologise for the blurred photo, I had to hold the camera above the post which the insect climbed on top of and it was taller than me at 6'.

Is it a type of wasp ?

I'm sure someone out there will know.

 

[Barn Owl]

Wood wasp?
Mind you it's not like the picture in my book.

 

[Scrumpy]

Could it be one of the European wasps that seem to be slowly moving over here? I have seen some odd looking beasties in the last few years.

 

[JonnyP]

My first thought was wood wasp, but don't they have antennas. Can't see one on your photo. The head looks fly like...

 

[andy_e]

Does look more like a Hoverfly of some kind

 

[Grooveski]

My first thought was wood wasp, but don't they have antennas....

Yup, big yellow ones.

Can't help, no idea.

 

[andy_e]

Pretty certain it's a hoverfly - but not one I can find a picture of ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrphidae

Edit: the Internet truely does have everything - http://www.hoverfly.org.uk/album.php

 

[Broadspeedturbo]

It isn't a wasp or hornet.
Eyes seem too small for hover fly.

Could it be a type of Ichneumon Fly?
Possibly Amblyteles armatorius:
http://www.reptilis.org/Amblyteles%20armatorius.htm

Whatever it is - an unusual insect. I never seen one before.

jnc

 

[JonnyP]

It isn't a wasp or hornet.
Eyes seem too small for hover fly.

Could it be a type of Ichneumon Fly?
Possibly Amblyteles armatorius:
http://www.reptilis.org/Amblyteles armatorius.htm

Whatever it is - an unusual insect. I never seen one before.

jnc

Ichneumonids are wasps though... http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15531 (I thought that name rang a bell..)

 

[bushwacker bob]

Ichneumonids are wasps though... http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15531 (I thought that name rang a bell..)

Ichneumon fly, is a fly that looks like a wasp.

 

[JonnyP]

Ichneumon fly, is a fly that looks like a wasp.

A bit like a sheep in a wolfs clothing eh..?

 

[andy_e]

Ichneumon fly, is a fly that looks like a wasp.

Not exactly ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichneumon_wasp

... Ichneumon Wasps are Hymenoptera not Diptera.

Whatever that is in the picture looks like something in between a Diptera and a Hymenoptera.

 

[scrubcutter]

Hiya P Wren,

It's a crane fly and is one of the wasp-mimicing species. Unfortunately, crane flies are not my forte so I cannot name the species. If you e-mail Alan Stubbs, organiser of the Crane Fly Recording Scheme (see the Biological Records Centre website www.brc.ac.uk) he may be able to help you - alan.stubbs@buglife.org.uk. If you can also supply a gird reference with the info' you've already supplied your name and record will go down into history (if it's a rare one).

The one in the photo has the typical legs spread and the wings held at an angle to the body typical of most crane flies. Also, only one pair of wings are visible indicative of a fly.

I hope no-one thinks I'm being condescending, but all flies have only one pair of wings; the hindwings are reduced to stabilisers. The bees and wasps, scorpionflies, butterflies, moths, etc. all have two pairs of wings (except of course those species that have reduced wings or lack them completely).

Scrubbity

 

[Matt Weir]

I hope no-one thinks I'm being condescending, but all flies have only one pair of wings; the hindwings are reduced to stabilisers. The bees and wasps, scorpionflies, butterflies, moths, etc. all have two pairs of wings (except of course those species that have reduced wings or lack them completely).

Scrubbity

I certainly don't take offence Scrubbs

Thanks for the info, that's what the forum is all about

 

[scrubcutter]

Thanks Matt!

Ooh! I've just remembered the name of the group the crane fly belongs. It's one of the ctenophorines or Combe-horned Craneflies - which are all wasp mimics (I think).

Scrubbity.

 

[spamel]

The knowledge of folk on these forums never ceases to amaze me. I reckon you could pick any subject in the world and somebody here could answer it. Even physics, seeing how Stephen Hawking's a well respected but not often seen member here.

 

[Tonedef]

I'll raise you - Wasp (tenthredo scrophulariae)


http://www.improvedimage.co.uk/picture.php?/182374084/

 

[scrubcutter]

I'll raise you - Wasp (tenthredo scrophulariae)

... and that's possibly one of the wasps they mimic - ha!