Dolichomitus imperator (Kriechbaumer, 1854)
Scientific name: Dolichomitus imperator (Kriechbaumer, 1854)
Common name:
French name:
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Ichneumonidae
Wingspan : 20-35 mm.
Biotope: Woodlands.
Geographic area:
Observation period :
Dolichomitus imperator is a very large black ichneumon wasp with reddish legs. It has very long antennae like all other ichneumon wasps.
The tibias and the tarsi of the hind legs are blackish.
The forewings have a small cell called areola. It is triangular shaped on the members of the Pimplinae family like Dolichomitus imperator.
The females' abdomen ends with a long ovipositor which allows to deposit eggs on xylophagous larvae.
The female smells the presence of the larva and reach it by inserting its ovipositor into the dead wood.

Dolichomitus imperator - Yvelines, France - June 26th 2008
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Dolichomitus imperator
You can clearly see the triangular areola on this picture. So this is one member of the Pimplinae sub family.
The size is large but there is still a doubt to tell Dolichomitus imperator apart as the tibias of the hind legs are not blackish.
I am eager to read your comments!

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