I was photographing my sweet peas after a night’s heavy rain when I spotted this tiny wasp resting on one of them. It only grows up to 10mm long, and it is identified by the white, black and orange banded hind tibia. The overall ground colour is black and reddish, with a distinctive white spot at the rear of the thorax.
This is a parasitic wasp mainly of hoverfly larvae, pupae and eggs, but also other diptera species. The females use their long ovipositors to inject the host and lay eggs inside it, and when the resulting larvae hatch they feed internally and eventaully kill the host organism.
It is seen June to September, and found in meadows and hedgerows. It appears to be fairly common.
Photograph of Diplazon laetatorius, taken August 2016, rear garden , Staffordshire. © Pete Hillman 2016. Camera used Nikon D7200, with Sigma 105mm macro lens.
Nature Journeys 
Serendipity can throw up good surprises at times. This has happened to me a couple of times. When looking at a photo of the main subject I notice something even
More interesting – though usually out of focus!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes serendipty is good at that, and sometimes what was your main subject comes totally second, even lost!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The raindrops on the pea plant look like a dream world. The wasp only reminds that it’s the real world . Amazing shot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much Sayanti 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful shot and interesting article. The insect world can be pretty cutthroat.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Belinda 🙂 Yes, the insect world can be pretty tough, such is the double edged nature of, well, nature.
LikeLiked by 1 person