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A member of the family Torymidae, this wasp is parasitoid of cynipid wasps.
The common gall hosts of this species are; Andricus quercusradicis agamic. The flight time for this wasp is august.
The female wasp measures in at 1.9-2.5mm, excluding ovipositor, with an average of 4.1mm.
The head is purple bronze, sculpted and with white hairs. The eyes are mid sized red/brown coloured. The antennae are very dark with a touch of metallic green and a hint of gold between the segments. The scape is yellow and brown. There is one ring and 7 funicular segments.
The thorax is metallic purple with white hairs and sculpted. The notaulices are deep and full length. The wings which are clear and have yellowish veins and hairs, with a very short stigmal and post marginal vein. The legs are pale yellow, with dark metallic purple green coxae. There are 5 tasel segments.
The gaster (abdomen) is a dark bronze/brown at the base, followed by a tesaceous yellow band that extends right round the body with a blob of brown at the top. Triangular from the side with a broad pointed top. The ovipositor sheaths are very long (about 138% body length) and dark brown.
The male is 2.7-3.1mm averaging at 2.8mm in length.
The head is purple bronze, sculpted and with white hairs. The eyes are mid sized red/brown coloured. The antennae are dark brown. The scape is yellow and dark brown. There is one ring and 7 funicular segments and the club is yellow and brown.
The thorax is metallic purple with white hairs and sculpted. The notaulices are deep and full length. The wings which are clear and have yellowish veins and hairs, with a very short stigmal and post marginal vein. The legs are pale yellow, with dark metallic purple green coxae. There are 5 tasel segments.
The bronze/brown gaster has a testaceous band runnign around the body but stopping at the top of the sides, which shows as a constriction in the darker colouring.
More detailed descriptions and identification keys are available from Robin Williams at the British Plant Gall Society.
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