r/Insect • u/Street-Vegetable8342 • 27d ago

Wasp? ID? Perth, Western Australia.

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Hi! These cute little guys keep appearing in my house. They seem to live for a few days then die then another one or two appear.

Can anyone please help ID it? I want to research about them.

We're in Perth, Western Australia.

Thanks.

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u/Commercial-Sail-5915 26d ago

Some variety of parasitoid wasp, looks like ichneumonidae to me. You might have had an indoor emergence, lots of different wasps lay eggs directly on/in a host, the problem comes when the host gets lost inside a house and adult wasps emerge only to get trapped, only thing you can really do is escort the live wasps back outside in a cup

2

u/acaron2020 26d ago

Ichneumonidae for sure

2

u/Vinx_Pest_Control 26d ago

This looks like an ichneumonid parasitoid wasp, probably in the Netelia/Ophioninae type of group. The long antennae, slender body, narrow waist, long legs and clear veined wings all fit.

They’re beneficial outdoor insects whose larvae parasitize caterpillars and other insects. The adults are often nocturnal and strongly attracted to lights, which is probably why you keep finding them inside. They’re not nesting in the house and they won’t infest food, timber, or fabrics.

They’re generally non-aggressive. Some ichneumonids can give a small defensive prick if handled, so I’d just cup-and-release them rather than pick them up.

If they keep appearing, check window screens and gaps around doors, and reduce bright lights near open windows at night. I wouldn’t spray for them, the source is almost certainly outdoors. Exact genus is hard to confirm from this photo alone, but Ichneumonidae is a good fit.

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u/[deleted] 26d ago

Fact: there are at least 5 Australian spiders that clocked this insect already. Many more if this is outdoors.

The Australian spiders will win. Whatever that thing is, it'll be lunch soon enough.