Description

The Ichneumonidae or Parasitic Wasps are a difficult group to identify. There are many similar species and some species are dimorphic. There are approximately 2,300 species in Britain and far more in Europe, so getting to grips with them is not easy. I have done my best to identify some and others I have left unidentified. I have included their photographs to give an idea of the diversity and attractiveness of this family. They parasitize mostly the larvae of butterflies and moths but also beetles, sawflies, flies and spiders.