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Wasps (Hymenoptera, Apocrita)

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References:

https://atlasoflife.org.au/resources/know-your-wasps

https://www.ozanimals.com/wildlife/Insect/Wasps.html

https://keys.lucidcentral.org/search/what-wasp-is-that/

Front Page of Interactive Key to Wasp Families

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Wasps (Hymenoptera, Apocrita)

Flower Wasps (Scoliidae, Thynnidae or Tiphiidae)

Parasitic wasps (numerous families)

Potter wasps (Vespidae, Eumeninae)

Sand or digger wasps (Crabronidae & Sphecidae)

Social or paper-nest wasps (Vespidae, Polistinae & Vespinae)

Spider wasps (Pompilidae)

Other wasps

Velvet Ants (Mutillidae)

Featured sightings

Delta bicinctum (Potter wasp) at Yarralumla, ACT - 6 Jan 2025 by Debbie05

Cryptocheilus bicolor (Orange Spider Wasp) at Fyshwick, ACT - 21 Mar 2025 by Tawny4

Cryptocheilus bicolor (Orange Spider Wasp) at Watson, ACT - 16 Feb 2025 by Harrisi

Ichneumonidae (family) (Unidentified ichneumon wasp) at Wodonga, VIC - 26 Dec 2024 by KylieWaldon

Sceliphron laetum (Common mud dauber wasp) at Yarralumla, ACT - 24 Dec 2024 by Gallpix

Rhagigaster ephippiger (Smooth flower wasp) at Kambah, ACT - 9 Dec 2024 by HelenCross

Polistes (Polistella) humilis (Common Paper Wasp) at Bruce, ACT - 30 Oct 2024 by kasiaaus

Cerceris sp. (genus) (Unidentified Cerceris wasp) at Hall, ACT - 10 Apr 2024 by Anna123

Latest sightings

Unverified Wasp (Hymenoptera, Apocrita) at Broke, NSW - Today by RoyP

Paralastor sp. (genus) at Yarralumla, ACT - Yesterday by PeterA

Chalcidoidea (superfamily) at Holt, ACT - Yesterday by AlisonMilton

Bethylidae (family) at Hawker, ACT - 4 Dec 2025 by AlisonMilton

Chalcidoidea (superfamily) at Hawker, ACT - 4 Dec 2025 by AlisonMilton

Unverified Wasp (Hymenoptera, Apocrita) at Cunjurong Point, NSW - 2 Dec 2025 by RobParnell

Delta bicinctum at Downer, ACT - 6 Dec 2025 by RobertD

Calopompilus sp. (genus) at Hall, ACT - 6 Dec 2025 by Anna123

Polistes (Polistella) humilis at Higgins, ACT - 5 Dec 2025 by AlisonMilton

Lissopimpla excelsa (Orchid dupe wasp, Dusky-winged Ichneumonid) by Janet

Unverified Spider wasp (Pompilidae) by CathB

Unverified Wasp (Hymenoptera, Apocrita) at Bendick Murrell, NSW - 14 Nov 2025 by BCTbluebucket

Stiromesostenus sp. (genus) by Pirom

Aglaotilla sp. (genus) at Captains Flat, NSW - 4 Dec 2025 by Csteele4

Unverified Wasp (Hymenoptera, Apocrita) at Mitchell, ACT - 1 Dec 2025 by ConBoekel

Unverified Wasp (Hymenoptera, Apocrita) by Greeneyes

Cryptocheilus sp. (genus) (Spider wasp) by LisaH

Unverified Wasp (Hymenoptera, Apocrita) by LisaH

Unverified Wasp (Hymenoptera, Apocrita) by LisaH

Unverified Wasp (Hymenoptera, Apocrita) by LisaH

Unverified Wasp (Hymenoptera, Apocrita) by LisaH

Pison sp. (genus) at Yarralumla, ACT - 30 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Paralastor sp. (genus) at Yarralumla, ACT - 30 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Eumeninae (subfamily) at Aranda, ACT - 24 Nov 2025 by CathB

Ichneumonidae (family) (Unidentified ichneumon wasp) at Isaacs, ACT - 1 Dec 2025 by Mike

Torymidae (family) at Aranda, ACT - 21 Nov 2025 by CathB

Ichneumonidae (family) (Unidentified ichneumon wasp) at Aranda, ACT - 10 Nov 2025 by CathB

Ichneumonidae (family) (Unidentified ichneumon wasp) at Theodore, ACT - 24 Nov 2025 by ChrisSutevski

Eumeninae (subfamily) (Unidentified Potter wasp) by ChrisSutevski

Echthromorpha intricatoria (Cream-spotted Ichneumon) by ChrisSutevski

Polistes (Polistes) chinensis (Asian paper wasp) at Theodore, ACT - 31 Oct 2025 by ChrisSutevski

Chalcidoidea (superfamily) (A gall wasp or Chalcid wasp) at Hawker, ACT - 28 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Bethylidae (family) at Hawker, ACT - 28 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Unverified Parasitic wasp (numerous families) at Hawker, ACT - 28 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Aglaotilla sp. (genus) (Australian Velvet Ant) at Gungahlin, ACT - 28 Nov 2025 by chriselidie

Chrysididae (family) (Cuckoo wasp or Emerald wasp) at Hall, ACT - 29 Nov 2025 by Anna123

Paralastor sp. (genus) (Potter Wasp) at Hall, ACT - 29 Nov 2025 by Anna123

Unverified Velvet Ant (Mutillidae) at Gordon, ACT - 1 Nov 2025 by GG

Evaniidae (family) (Hatchet wasp) at Boro, NSW - 28 Nov 2025 by Paul4K

Polistes (Polistella) humilis (Common Paper Wasp) at Symonston, ACT - 28 Nov 2025 by Mike

Podalonia tydei (Caterpillar-hunter wasp) at Aranda, ACT - 28 Nov 2025 by KMcCue

Radumeris tasmaniensis (Yellow Hairy Flower Wasp) by KL

Callibracon capitator (White Flank Black Braconid Wasp) at Kambah, ACT - 28 Nov 2025 by HelenCross

Chrysididae (family) (Cuckoo wasp or Emerald wasp) at Karabar, NSW - 28 Nov 2025 by SteveBorkowskis

Turneromyia sp. (genus) (Zebra spider wasp) at Fisher, ACT - 1 Nov 2017 by Paul57

Unverified Other wasp at Canyonleigh, NSW - 19 Nov 2025 by blacksheep

Encyrtidae (family) (Encyrtid wasp) at Barton, ACT - 24 Nov 2025 by TimL

Chalcidoidea (superfamily) (A gall wasp or Chalcid wasp) at Acton, ACT - 23 Nov 2025 by TimL

Unverified Potter wasp (Vespidae, Eumeninae) by Paul4K

Catocheilus sp. (genus) (Smooth flower wasp) at Tinderry, NSW - 24 Nov 2025 by Miranda

Unverified Wasp (Hymenoptera, Apocrita) at Higgins, ACT - 26 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Pompilidae (family) (Unidentified Spider wasp) at Higgins, ACT - 25 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Primeuchroeus sp. (genus) (Cuckoo Wasp) at Gungahlin, ACT - 24 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Lissopimpla excelsa (Orchid dupe wasp, Dusky-winged Ichneumonid) at Gungahlin, ACT - 24 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Lissopimpla excelsa (Orchid dupe wasp, Dusky-winged Ichneumonid) at Higgins, ACT - 25 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Lissopimpla excelsa (Orchid dupe wasp, Dusky-winged Ichneumonid) at O'Connor, ACT - 24 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Chalcididae (family) (Unidentified chalcid wasp) at Gungahlin, ACT - 25 Nov 2025 by chriselidie

Catocheilus sp. (genus) (Smooth flower wasp) at Tinderry, NSW - 24 Nov 2025 by Csteele4

Lissopimpla excelsa (Orchid dupe wasp, Dusky-winged Ichneumonid) at Tinderry, NSW - 24 Nov 2025 by Csteele4

Ichneumonoidea (Superfamily) (A species of parasitic wasp) at Acton, ACT - 23 Nov 2025 by TimL

Torymidae (family) (Torymid wasp) at Acton, ACT - 23 Nov 2025 by TimL

Unverified Spider wasp (Pompilidae) at Oakhampton, NSW - 23 Nov 2025 by Banksym3

Eumeninae (subfamily) at O'Connor, ACT - 23 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Braconidae (family) (Unidentified braconid wasp) at Gungahlin, ACT - 22 Nov 2025 by chriselidie

Austrogorytes bellicosus (A sand wasp) at Campbell, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Thynninae (subfamily) (Smooth flower wasp) at Yarralumla, ACT - 13 Nov 2025 by galah681

Scelionidae (family) (Scelionid wasp) at Russell, ACT - 19 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Netelia sp. (genus) at Downer, ACT - 21 Nov 2025 by RobertD

Chrysididae (family) (Cuckoo wasp or Emerald wasp) at Acton, ACT - 20 Nov 2025 by TimL

Chrysididae (family) (Cuckoo wasp or Emerald wasp) at Jerrabomberra, NSW - 20 Nov 2025 by DianneClarke

Podalonia tydei (Caterpillar-hunter wasp) at Rendezvous Creek, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by RodDeb

Lissopimpla excelsa (Orchid dupe wasp, Dusky-winged Ichneumonid) at Crowther, NSW - 19 Nov 2025 by Frecko

Chrysididae (family) (Cuckoo wasp or Emerald wasp) at Strathnairn, ACT - 19 Nov 2025 by TimL

Braconidae (family) at Campbell, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Braconidae (family) at Campbell, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Gasteruptiidae (Family) (Carrot Wasps) at Downer, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by RobertD

Lissopimpla excelsa (Orchid dupe wasp, Dusky-winged Ichneumonid) at Canyonleigh, NSW - 13 Nov 2025 by blacksheep

Apocrita (suborder) (Unidentified wasp) at Ainslie, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Delta bicinctum (Potter wasp) at Acton, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by TimL

Chrysididae (family) (Cuckoo wasp or Emerald wasp) at Campbell, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Apocrita (suborder) at Ainslie, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Stiromesostenus sp. (genus) (An ichneumon wasp) at Ainslie, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Pompilidae (family) (Unidentified Spider wasp) at Latham, ACT - 14 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Diamma bicolor (Blue ant, Bluebottle ant) at Rendezvous Creek, ACT - 15 Nov 2025 by VanceLawrence

Trichilogaster sp. (genus) (Acacia gall wasp) at Holder, ACT - 1 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Chalcididae (family) at Kaleen, ACT - 15 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Ichneumonidae (family) (Unidentified ichneumon wasp) at Kaleen, ACT - 15 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Agamerion (Genus) (Chalcidoid Wasp) at Kaleen, ACT - 15 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Apocrita (suborder) Nest at Crace, ACT - 15 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Apocrita (suborder) Nest at Crace, ACT - 15 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Apocrita (suborder) at Crace, ACT - 15 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Labium sp. (genus) at Crace, ACT - 15 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Paralastor sp. (genus) at Downer, ACT - 15 Nov 2025 by RobertD

Vespula germanica (European Wasp, German Yellowjacket Wasp) at Kambah, ACT - 14 Nov 2025 by HelenCross

Callibracon sp. (genus) at Crace, ACT - 14 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Ophelimus maskellii (Eucalyptus Gall Wasp) at Kaleen, ACT - 14 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Apocrita (suborder) at Kaleen, ACT - 14 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Ichneumonidae (family) at Kaleen, ACT - 14 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Diamma bicolor (Blue ant, Bluebottle ant) at Hume, ACT - 14 Nov 2025 by SteveBorkowskis

Unverified Wasp (Hymenoptera, Apocrita) by chriselidie

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Discussion

Csteele4 wrote:

6 Dec 2025

@KimPullen any ideas?

Aglaotilla sp. (genus)

MichaelBedingfield wrote:

1 Dec 2025

Female

Polistes (Polistes) chinensis

AlisonMilton wrote:

28 Nov 2025

@Paul57 Paul, Did you also include a sighting for the spider?

Turneromyia sp. (genus)

galah681 wrote:

22 Nov 2025

Now I look closely, you could be right. It looks like 2 bodies are there. Rather small for a flower wasp. They would be about 1cm or less, but there may be some small species.

Thynninae (subfamily)

Curiosity wrote:

22 Nov 2025

@galah681, I'm thinking this might be a male flower wasp with an attached female.

Thynninae (subfamily)

Significant sightings

Species Richness Score (SRS)

680

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825,463 sightings of 23,493 species from 15,064 members
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