HYMENOPTERA > APOCRITA | Parasitica > Ichneumonidae > Cryptinae > Cryptini

The first individual featured here was identified as a male Ischnus inquisitorius of the Cryptini tribe.

Although largely obscured by the wings, it has very distinctive abdominal markings. I've not been able to find a definitive description for the species, but most of the photos I've seen on the internet are females, which have more bulbous plain reddish coloured abdomens. I also read that the males seem to only appear in June to mate and then disappear, whereas the females are present for much of the year.

Once again, there are very few confirmed records for this species, so I was pleased that a couple of years after photographing the male I found a female and was able to get one reasonable shot before it flew. I actually thought it was a different species before it was positively identified.

Updated, March 24 (v.2)