HYMENOPTERA > APOCRITA | Parasitica > Ichneumonidae > Ichneumoninae > Heresiarchini

Ichneumoninae was our second largest ichneumonid subfamily after Cryptinae and remains in the same position even after the reclassification of the Phygadeuontini tribe, as the newly recognised Phygadeuontinae subfamily still lists slightly more species. The current checklist recognises around 380 species in 95 genera that are separated into nine tribes, of which only three are currently represented here.

The subfamily includes most of the larger, more colourful species - a number of which can be readily identified from photos. Many have yellow or white markings, and are often sexually dimorphic in both structure and colour pattern. They have a long propodeum and distinctly petiolate, dorsoventrally depressed abdomen, short and sometimes almost invisible ovipositor, and a pentagonal areolet (the small, second submarginal cell) in each forewing.

Amblyjoppa fuscipennis is one of a number of species from the Ichneumonini tribe featured within the NHM 'identification guide to British ichneumonids'. It is described as a large (16-25mm) beautiful wasp with a black head, black thorax with a small cream spot, and a quite broad bright orange abdomen. It can be confused with another similar species Protichneumon pisorius, but that species has black tips on the hind tibia and tarsus, whereas on Amblyjoppa fuscipennis they are entirely orange.

Favoured habitats are woodland and gardens.

The female of the species injects her eggs into the caterpillar larvae of the Small Elephant Hawk-moth [Deilephila porcellus]. 

Updated, March 25 (v.2)