tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595983014626235642.post564936176516989315..comments2023-12-22T11:51:38.762+01:00Comments on The story of our life returning to England from Braye-sous-Faye: Twin yellow-banded bug?Colin and Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15990185210945021818noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595983014626235642.post-27277225683147728572013-07-22T21:10:18.455+02:002013-07-22T21:10:18.455+02:00Thanks Susan, these were no more than 15mm in leng...Thanks Susan, these were no more than 15mm in length.Colin and Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15990185210945021818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595983014626235642.post-53112840976562449632013-07-22T20:37:23.937+02:002013-07-22T20:37:23.937+02:00Using the other Chinery guide, I'd say it'...Using the other Chinery guide, I'd say it's a choice between S. flavifrons male or S. hirta. How big was it?<br />Here's what it says in the book:<br />S. flavifrons - Yellow Headed Beetle Wasp - one of Europe's largest hymenopterans with female up to 40mm long. Her head, larger than that of male, is chestnut brown. Each yellow abdomenal band may be split into 2 spots.Thorax and tip of abdomen may have reddish hairs. June-Aug in hot sunny places visiting a wide range of flowers for nectar. Harmless to man despite its size. A parasite of the Rhinoceros Beetle. Southern.<br /><br />S. hirta - distinguished from several similar species by the 2 yellow bands and the strong violet colour on the wings. July-Oct. A parasite of chafer beetles. Southern and central.<br /><br />I'm leaning towards S. hirta. It seems more likely, and I have recorded them in Preuilly (dead - never seen a live one).Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06472449597146519943noreply@blogger.com