Gasteruption sp. 1

Unknown.

Unknown.

This wasp is approximately 30 millimetres long (excluding ovipositor) and feeding on the flowers of Astartea scoparia.

These wasps are cleptoparasitic and use their long ovipositor to lay their eggs in the nests of solitary native bees that nest in wood. The wasp larvae take over the provisions of honey and pollen after killing off the host egg or larva.

Male wasps are similar to females but don’t have the ovipositor.

These photographs were taken in December.

Identification and information courtesy of Terry Houston, WA Museum.

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