Hypsicera (Ichneumonidae: Metopiinae)
Workbook
This small, unfamiliar wasp was one of several we noticed in flight on an unseasonably hot spring day (1/10/23). The colourful wings and enlarged hind legs attracted my attention, so I collected it for study.
Collection ID: 2310C. All images captured within 24 hours of collection. Collected here, in the forest … see iNat sighting record 185851289
After some digging through images and CSIRO’s Insects of Australia, I noted the similarity with Metopiinae. In particular, the following images on iNaturalist are quite similar: from Melbourne; from Canberra; from northern QLD.
So I downloaded Gauld’s 1984 book (wow, what a find! see reference list, and link) and got to work.
Hypsicera (Ichneumonidae: Metopiinae)
Based on M.G. Fitton’s key to genera of Australian Metopiinae (in Gauld 1984, pp 355-356), the wasp is a very good match for genus Hypsicera. Key steps as follows: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8 … Hypsicera.
There is currently only one species of Hypsicera listed on AFD: H. femoralis. As the colouration of mine is quite different to the BOLD collection for H. femoralis, I suspect this is an undescribed species. Gauld recognised four undescribed species from Australia – and that was 40 years ago.
Extra images, same specimen
Reference
Gauld, I.D. 1984. An Introduction to the Ichneumonidae of Australia: with a contribution on Metopiinae by M.G. Fitton. British Museum (Natural History). London. Available for instant download from Zenoda.
This is a workbook page … a part of our website where we record the observations and references used in making species identifications. The notes will not necessarily be complete. They are a record for our own use, but we are happy to share this information with others.