HYMENOPTERA > APOCRITA | Parasitica > Ichneumonidae > Tryphoninae

This subfamily currently includes around 80 mostly small, inconspicuous species - comprising both the original Tersilochinae and, in part, the former subfamily Phrudinae (genera Astrenis, Phrudus and Pygmaeolus). They have not been split into separate tribes, but are usually treated as separate groups; the traditional Tersilochus group and the Phrudus group, which is made up of just eight species. The latter includes some of the smallest British ichneumonids.

Although identification to species is impossible from photos, individuals, notably of the Tersilochus group, can generally be recognised as belonging to the subfamily by their forewing venation, which have a large, roughly triangular-shaped, pterostigma, coupled with a thickened 2rs-m vein and an angle of less than 90 degrees between the first and second sections of the radius. There are additional features, such as a comparatively large antennal pedicel and a fringe of strong setae on the clypeus, but realistically these require close examination. At best, it might be possible to confirm the genus and, in this respect, the individual featured here could be Barycnemis from the wing venation.

It's only a tentative suggestion, but Barycnemis harpura is the second most frequently recorded Tersilochine species after Phradis interstitialis, and is easily the most likely member of the genus to be found locally.

The majority of species develop as koinobiont endoparasitoids of various Coleoptera larvae. The actual procedure in terms of egg placement varies from one species and host to another, but generally the females start egg laying just a few days after mating, which itself takes place very soon after they've emerged.

Updated, March 25 (v.2)