Wildlife Review 2023: Wasps

Within the vast sub-orders of wasps there is always potential for new species, although most are very small and require detailed examination. This year nine new species were added to the audit, with a tally of 71 recorded overall.

The first new species of the year was the tiny flightless wasp Callitula pyrrhogaster of the family Pteromalidae; found on 7th March, this is a rarely encountered parasitoid of the fruit fly Oscinella frit. 

Callitula pyrrhogaster - Alan Keatley

The largest family of wasps is Ichneumonidae, also known as Darwin wasps. Larger species recorded most years included White-striped Darwin wasp Ichneumon sarcitorius on 7th April, Apechthis compunctor on 15th May, Orange-legged Darwin wasp Pimpla rufipes on 30th May, Greater Pennant Wasp Gasteruption jaculator on 24th June and Umbellifer Darwin wasp Amblyteles armatorius on 9th July.

White-striped Darwin wasp Ichneumon sarcitorius - Alan Keatley

Other ichneumons this year included the orangey Ophion scutellaris, taken at a light trap on 11th June and new for the Recording Area, Stenichneumon culpator on 10th August and the tiny wingless hyper-parasitoid (a parasitoid of a parasitoid) Gelis agilis on 21st October.

Possibly the most unexpected new species was a Collared Dryinid Dryinus collaris on 13th May. This strange looking wasp has fore tarsus shaped as pincers. It is a parasitoid of bug nymphs and is classified as a national rarity. Bethylus cephalotes, a parasitoid of moth larvae, was recorded on 18th July.

Collared Dryinid Dryinus collaris - Alan Keatley

Several jewel-like cuckoo wasps of the family Chrysididae were recorded including Linnaeus's Cuckoo Wasp Chrysis ignita on 28th May, Glowing Cuckoo Wasp Hedychridium ardens on 24th June and Blue Cuckoo Wasp Trichrysis cyanea on 29th July.

Spider-hunting wasps (Pompilidae) are well represented on site. Species recorded this year included the common Red-legged Spider Wasp Episyron rufipes and Leaden Spider Wasp Pompilus cinereus, both from 1st June. A new species was found by the golf club entrance on 8th June, Vertical Spider Wasp Agenioideus cinctellus, these wasps hunt from and nest in cracks in walls. The Bristle-tailed Spider Wasp Anoplius infuscatus was recorded on 9th July, and finally Variable Spider Wasp Dipogon variegatus on 9th September.

Vertical Spider Wasp Agenioideus cinctellus - Alan Keatley

The first Mason-wasp of the year was appropriately, Early Mason-wasp Ancistrocerus nigricornis seen from 1st June, with Willow Mason-wasp Symmorphus bifasciatus seen on the 3rd. Small-notched Mason-wasp A. gazella and Three-banded Mason-wasp A. trifasciatus were both active from 17th June. The nationally scarce Little Mason-wasp Microdynerus exilis was recorded on 22th June. 

Little Mason-wasp Microdynerus exilis - Alan Keatley

The large and distinctive Red-banded Sand Wasp Ammophila sabulosa, the only invertebrate on the SSSI citation, was patrolling the sand dunes in search of moth larvae from 20th May, numbers are down following the  significant loss of mobile and fixed dune habitat lost after the failed beach recharge scheme. 

Red-banded Sand Wasp Ammophila sabulosa - Alan Keatley

Diggers wasps (Crabronidae) are a common sight during late spring and summer and depending on their nesting preference, can be found anywhere on site. The first species recorded this year was Mournful Wasp Pemphredon lugubris from 18th May followed by Common Spiny Digger Wasp Oxybelus uniglumis from the 28th. 

Into the peak month of June; Wesmael's Digger Wasp Crossocerus wesmaeli were recorded from 1st June, with a Horned Black Wasp Passaloecus corniger on 3rd June, a new Warren species. Armed Crabro Digger Wasp Crabro peltarius were nectaring on umbellifers from 12th June with Minute Digger Wasp Dimidiatus minutus emerging from their nest holes the same day. The Shieldbug Stalker Astata boops was on the hunt from 15th. The first Spine-headed Fly Fox Crossocerus quadrimaculatus of the year were searching for prey on sycamore leaves on the 17th June, when the bug hunting Dahlbom's Digger Wasp Mimumesa dahlbomi was also active. 

Dahlbom's Digger Wasp Mimumesa dahlbomi - Alan Keatley

Ornate-tailed Digger Wasp Cerceris rybyensis, Common Ectemnius E. continuus, the nationally scarce Dark-winged Digger Wasp Lestiphorus bicinctus and Three-spotted Digger Wasp Nysson trimaculatus were all first recorded for the year on 22nd June, with Slender-bodied Digger Wasp Crabro cribrarius from the 24th. The first Bee-wolf Philanthus triangulum were digging burrows to provision with captured Honey Bees from 24th. Also found on 24th, Red-bodied Stem Wasp Rhapalum clavipes. The last new species to emerge in June was Sand-tailed Digger Wasp Cerceris arenaria on 29th.

Bee-wolf with prey - Alan Keatley

July started with a new species for the Recording Area; Red-tailed Wasp-cuckoo Nysson dimidiatus on 3rd, with Hairy-backed Boxhead Crossocerus megacephalus, Ridged-back Fly Fox Ectemnius cephalotes and Four-banded Digger Wasp Gorytes quadrifasciatus appearing from 6th. Small Shieldbug Stalker Dryudella pinguis were to be found on bare sand from 9th, with the grasshopper hunting Common Tachysphex T. pompiliformis and Slender Wood-borer Wasp Trypoxylon attenuatum on 16th. A further new species was the small black digger wasp Crossocerus varus found on 31st.

Red-tailed Wasp-cuckoo Nysson dimidiatus - Alan Keatley

Into August and Trilobed Boxhead Crossocerus podagricus was recorded on 15th with a White-spotted Digger Wasp Harpactus tumidus; the first for over 20 years, the next day. The last new digger wasp of the year was the late flying Field Digger Wasp Mellinus arvensis on 10th September.

The first social wasp of the year was a newly emerged queen German Wasp Vespula germanica on 25th March with Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris from 2nd April. Both species had nests on site, with a Common Wasp nest raided by a Badger in Greenland Lake. Common Wasp were active until the first frost in late November. Hornet Vespula crabro were occasionally noted with the first on 1st June. The only other social wasp species reported this year was a Median Wasp Dolichovespula media on Ivy on 6th November.

German Wasp - Vespula germanica

Gall forming wasps (Cynipidae) were, as usual, recorded by noting their distinctive plant galls. The majority of these came from the various oaks on site, including the marble gall of Andricus kollari, the leaf distorting gall of A. curvator,  the spangle gall of Neuroterus quercusbaccarum, the pasty shaped gall of Pseudoneuroterus saliens, the artichoke gall of A. foecundatrix, the familiar knopper gall of A. quercuscalicis, and the silk button gall of N. numismalis.

Andricus curvator - Kevin Rylands

The distinctive red spiky galls of Bedeguar Gall Wasp Diplolepis rosae can be found on Dog-Rose across site, the swelling of a Cat's-ear stem revealed the presence of the gall wasp Phanacis hypochoeridis on 7th June, with hairy swellings on Ground-Ivy leaves found on 19th May, the galls of Liposthenes glechomae, a new species for the site.

Phanacis hypochoeridis gall on Cat's-ear - Kevin Rylands