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Gasteruption Wasps
Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 10:41 pm
by birder100
Gasteruption Wasps ??
Hi All,
I put this on yesterday on a different forum ....... I'm new at this stuff ...... anyway this seems to be a better, more insect-friendly part of the rECOrd site, so here goes again .......
I've had a Gasteruption wasp in my garden for a few days on Hemlock Water Dropwort but I'm at a complete loss as to which of the five+ UK species it is. The 'commonest' is 'jaculator' ...... the second commonest 'assectator' ....... both actually rare ....... I've no idea how common the other three are ......
The web is little use. Anyone got any ideas?
Tony
Re: Gasteruption Wasps
Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 11:05 am
by SteveMcBill
Tony,
Try posting the photos on Gavin Broad's wall on Facebook - see here: https://www.facebook.com/gavin.broad.75?fref=ts
Gavin specialises in parasitica (and he comes from Cheshire) so he is an excellent contact and is usually able to help.
Cheers.
Steve
Re: Gasteruption Wasps
Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 12:14 pm
by birder100
Thanks very much Steve. I think that I met Gavin a long time ago.
I'll let you know what happens.
Tony
Re: Gasteruption Wasps
Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 12:22 pm
by birder100
Steve,
One problem, I'm not on facebook and it won't let me do anything without signing up...
Can you ask him to drop me an email on
tony.broome@enwl.co.uk?
Tony
Re: Gasteruption Wasps
Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 12:25 pm
by SteveMcBill
Tony,
Perhaps this might help:
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/ ... index.html
Some of Dr Gavin Broad's background in parasitica can be see here: http://www.ispot.org.uk/node/100349
Cheers.
Steve
Re: Gasteruption Wasps
Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 12:28 pm
by birder100
Many thanks yet again Steve.
I'm primarily a birder with an increasing interest in wasps and bees. I've been operating a moth trap off and on since 1978, so do have a little insight into entomology, albeit at an amateur level. What I have found is that there are no ID books for many groups of insects, even the commoner, brightly coloured ones. The level of ID guide for birds, moths, butterflies and dragonflies far exceeds anything for other insect groups. The new hoverfly guide is okay but not comprehensive and I rely on BWARS and Eakring for many species of bees and wasps but they are limited in their usefulness ....... I now come to look at these Gasteruption wasps and have been met with a brick wall. There are plenty of forums but the info on them is scattered and there are more people with questions than people with answers.
A new comprehensive site is needed .......
Anyway, I will track Gavin down. Thanks again.
Tony