| Ophion obscuratus (Fabricius, 1798) |
|
|
|
Scientific name: Ophion obscuratus (Fabricius, 1798) Common name: French name: Order: Hymenoptera Family: Ichneumonidae Wingspan : 15-22 mm. Biotope: Various habitats. Geographic area: Palaearctic region. Observation period : All year round except June and July. |
Parasitic wasps of the Ophion genus are large size ichneumonidae with a nocturnal activity and often endoparasites of Noctuidae caterpillars. They are attracted to light. The abdomen is compressed laterally and petiolate. The antennae are very long. There are 3 large ocelli between the eyes. You can identify the members of this genus with the layout of the wings' veins close to the stigma. The r-s vein starting from the stigma and extending towards the margin is straight. You can see a short segment of vein called ramellus pointing into the cell located under the stigma. The Rs+M vein in the extension of the ramellus is bent in the middle. I have found at least 24 species of the Ophion genus listed as present in Europe including 12 in France. Telling species apart is very difficult. I have read that only one species is easy to identify on picture. This is Ophion ventricosus which is the only one to show one black marking on the thorax. Here is some information linked to Ophion obscuratus but maybe not enough to be totally sure of the species identification. The body is an orange to orange brown colour, without any black marking but with pale yellow marking, in particular two longitudinal stripes on the upper side of the thorax, linked by a cross stripe. There are very pale coloured spots on each side of the stigma which tapers at the front and at the rear. The lateral sides of the abdomen show a lighter coloured area between tergites and sternites. The eyes are bordered with yellow at the back. Ophion forticornis and Ophion luteus are very similar species and there may be others. |
| [To know more about the Ophion obscuratus] [Next picture] [Top] |
|
The criteria I think useful to help identify Ophion obscuratus are all visible on this picture (better visible on the non-reduced picture for the wings' vein per example). However I stay at Ophion sp. because I am not sure that this is enough to be sure of the species identification. |
| [To know more about the Ophion obscuratus] [Next picture] [Previous picture] [Top] |
|
I have seen this one inside the house this time. This Ophion, of the obscuratus group, has been attracted to light. |
| [To know more about the Ophion obscuratus] [Next picture] [Previous picture] [Top] |
|
Upper side view. |
| [To know more about the Ophion obscuratus] [Next picture] [Previous picture] [Top] |
|
Close-up view on the lateral side of the thorax. |
| [To know more about the Ophion obscuratus] [Previous picture] [Top] |
|
You can clearly see the wings' veins on this close-up view. You can see the ramellus pointing towards the stigma, the straight vein running downwards obliquely from the stigma and the bent vein below the ramellus. |
André Bon September 2020