Description

Body length 14 to 16mm. Black with a white face and red legs. The female has a very long ovipositor, about 15mm long.

Habitat

Areas where the Alder Wood-wasp, Xiphydria camelus, can be found. The female drills through the wood to lay her egg in the wood-wasp larva.

Status and distribution

Fairly widespread but thinly recorded throughout southern Britain as far north as Yorkshire.

Best time to see

August.