Wasps
of Orange County, California (and nearby places)

(Click on images or names to open). Yellow background, exotic species.

Photographed and compiled by Peter J. Bryant (pjbryant@uci.edu)
Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, 
University of California, Irvine, CA
92697
Debra Mauzy-Melitz, Ron Hemberger and Hartmut Wisch

Agaonidae (Fig wasps) Aphelinidae (Aphelinid wasps) Bethylidae
  Small (2 mm or less); yellowish-brown color, not metallic; thorax and abdomen broadly joined; short pronotum; notoauli deep and straight; long thin mid-tibial spur; tarsi usually 5 segmented; antennae with 5-8 segments (thus different from the usually 11-segmented antennae of Encyrtidae) and clubbed in females; large eyes; wings with setal tracts, long marginal vein. USDA.Terminology and Anatomy. Parasites of larvae of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera.

Fig Wasp, Pleistodontes imperialis

Whitefly parasitoid,
Eretmocerus californicus

Parasitoid from Willow Leafy Gall, Coccophagus sp.

Parasitoid from Sagebrush Scale

Bethylid wasp
Braconidae (Braconid wasps)

Apanteles sp.

Aphid parasitoid, Aphidius sp

Aphidius sp.

Bracon sp.
Cotesia congregata

Diaeretiella rapae?

Lytopylus sp.

Macrocentrus sp.

Subfamily Agathidinae

Subfamily Agathidinae

Subfamily Aphidiinae

Subfamily Aphidiinae

Chelonus sp.

Subfamily Cheloninae

Subfamily Microgastrinae

Subfamily Opiinae

Subfamily Rhogadinae?

Braconid Wasp

Braconid Wasp

Braconid Wasp
Braconidae (cont.) Chalcididea (Chalcid wasps)

Braconid Wasp

Brachymeria fonscolombei

Parasitoid wasp, Brachymeria ovata

Conura sp.

Psilochalcis sp.
Chyphotidae (Chyphotid Wasps)   Chrysididae (Cuckoo Wasps)

Chyphotes sp.
   
Cuckoo Wasp
 
Crabronidae (Crabronid Wasps)

Astata sp.

Western Sand Wasp,
Bembix americana

Sand Wasp, Bembix sp.

Bembicine Wasp

Bicyrtes capnopterus

Hunting Wasp: Tribe Cercerini

Cerceris sextoides

Cerceris sp.

Cerceris sp.

Cerceris sp.
Female

Cerceris sp.
Male

Cerceris sp.

Cerceris sextoides. Male

Cerceris sp.

Dryudella sp.

Square-headed Wasp, Ectemnius sp.

Square-headed Wasp, Ectemnius sp.

Eucerceris provancheri

Digger Wasp, Hoplisoides hamatus

Solitary Wasp, Larropsis sp.

Square-headed Wasp, Liris sp.

Sand Wasp, Microbembex sp.

Square-headed Wasp, Oxybelus sp.

Pemphredon sp.

Square-headed Wasp, Solierella sp.

Bee Wolf, Philanthus crabroniformis

Bee Wolf, Philanthus gibbosus

Pacific Burrowing Wasp,
Philanthus multimaculatus

Hunting Wasp: Philanthus sp.

Hunting Wasp: Philanthus sp.

Bee Hunter, Philanthus sp.

Bee Hunter, Philanthus sp.

Square-headed wasp, Pison sp

Sand Wasp, Steniolia sp.

Steniola sp.?

Tachysphex sp.

Square-headed Wasp,
Tachytes distinctus

Square-headed Wasp,
Trypoxylon sp.

Square-headed Wasp,
Trypoxylon sp.

Tribe Crabronini

Sand-loving Wasp, Tribe Larrini

Square-headed Wasp, Tribe Larrini

Square-headed wasp, Tribe Larrini

Sand-loving Wasp, Tribe Larrini

Square-headed Wasp, Tribe Larrini

Square-headed wasp, Tribe Miscophini

Square-headed Wasp, Tribe Miscophini

Tribe Nyssonini

Tribe Pemphredonini
Cynipidae (Gall Wasps): First row (as available), inducing wasps; second row, galls or gall types from which the corresponding wasp hatched.
On scrub oak, Quercus berberidifolia:
Crystalline Disc Gall Wasp,
Andricus crystallinus

Disc Gall Wasp,
Andricus parmula

Gall Wasp, Andricus quercuscalifornicus

Cynips (=Besbicus)
conspicuus


Spined Turban Gall Wasp,
Cynips (=Antron) douglasii

 

Spined Turban Gall Wasp,
Cynips (=Antron) douglasii

Beaked Twig Gall Wasp,
Disholcaspis plumbella

Beaked Twig Gall Inquiline,
Synergus sp.

PBCyn1

PBCyn9
 

PBCyn10

PBCyn11

PBCyn12

Oak apple Gall Wasp,
PBCyn20
 
 
On Live Oak, Quercus agrifolia On Wild Rose

Two-horned Gall Wasp,
Dryocosmus dubiosus

Pumpkin Gall Wasp,
Dryocosmus minisculus

PBCyn5

Gall Wasp from Wild Rose,
Diplolepis polita

Gall Wasp from Wild Rose,
Diplolepis californica
On Canyon Live Oak, Quercus chrysolepis

Heteroecus sanctaeclarae

PBCyn3

PBCyn7 (Andricus lasius?)

PBCyn8 (Andricus lasius?)

Cynipid wasp
Diapriidae (Diapriid Wasps) Dryinidae (Dryinid Wasps)  

Coptera sp.
 
Dryinid larvae parasitizing a hemipteran nymph
   
Encyrtidae (Encyrtid Wasps)
Small (<2mm); mesopleuron large, often occupying more than half the thorax in side view; mesoscutum transverse and without notauli or with shallow notauli; legs with mid-tibial spur; antennae usually with 11 segments. Wing venation with short marginal and stigmal veins (shorter than the submarginal). Often parasitoids of scale insects. USDA Terminology and Anatomy.
Parasitoid on scale insect Parasitoid on Red gum lerp psyllid   Parasitoids from Willow Rosette Gall

Anagyrus kamali

Psyllaephagus bliteus
 
White legs - PBEnc3

Dark back legs - PBEnc4
Parasitoid on scale insect Parasitoids on Cochineal insect?    

Pseudleptomastix sp.

Cheiloneurus sp.

Encyrtid Wasp
   
Eulophidae (Eulophid Wasps)
Dark metallic color; distinct waist; 4-segmented tarsi with protibial spur short and straight; antenna 7- to 9-segmented with 2 to 4-segmented funicle and up to four anelli; most are parasitoids. USDA. Terminology and Anatomy.

Pnigalio sp.

PBEul6


PBEul7

PBEul9

Eulophid Wasp, Tetrastichinae

Eulophid Wasp

Eulophid Wasp

Eulophid Wasp, Aprostocetus sp.

no sequence

Eulophid Wasp
 
Eupelmidae (Eupelmid Wasps)
Mesopleuron usually large and undivided. Short waist. Mid coxae inserted level with posterior margin of mesopleuron. Male antenna with seven funicle segments and a single, very small annellus. USDA. Terminology and Anatomy.

Arachnophaga sp.

Brasema sp.

Eupelmus cynipidis

Eupelmus sp.

Reikosiella sp.

Eupelmid Wasp
       
Eurytomidae (Eurytomid Wasps)
Strongly sculptured dull black appearance; punctate head and thorax; rectangular pronotum; rounded, smooth, and compressed abdomen; mesoscutum with notauli deep and complete; antenna with fewer than 13 segments. USDA. Terminology and Anatomy.

Sycophila sp.

Sycophila sp.

Sycophila sp.

Sycophila sp.

Sycophila sp. (?)
Eurytomidae (Eurytomid Wasps), cont.   Gasteruptiidae (Gasteruptiid Wasps)

Eurytomid Wasp
   
Gasteruption sp.
 
Ichneumonidae (Ichneumon Wasps)

Anomalon sp.

Casinaria sp.

Compsocryptus sp.

Diplazon laetatorius

Lathrostizus sp.

Tribe Ephialtini. Scambus sp.?

Syrphoctonus pacificus (reared from Allograpta obliqua pupa)

Subfamily Campopleginae
(female)

Subfamily Cremastinae

Subfamily Cryptinae

Subfamily Cryptinae; Tribe Phygadeuontini

Subfamily Gelinae

Subfamily Ichneumoninae

Subfamily Ichneumoninae

Subfamily Ichneumoninae

Netelia sp.

Short-tailed Ichneumon Wasp; Subfamily Ophioninae

Pimpla saguinipes

Subfamily Pimplinae

Temelucha grapholithaa complex?

Ichneumon Wasp
(reared from Tussock moth pupa)
       
Mutillidae (Velvet Ants)

Red-haired Velvet Ant,
Dasymutilla aureola pacifica

Red-haired Velvet Ant,
Dasymutilla magnifica

Velvet Ant,
Dasymutilla sackenii

Velvet Ant,
Dasymutilla sp.

Velvet Ant, Mutillidae

Red-haired Velvet Ant, Pseudomethoca anthracina

Sphaeropthalminae
     
Ormyridae Perilampidae Platygasteridae  

Ormyrus sp.

Fam. Perilampidae

Synopeas sp.

Telenomus sp.
 
Pompilidae (Spider Wasps) Movie of an interaction between Tarantula and Tarantula Hawk (in Costa Rica)

Ageniella coronata

Anoplius americanus


Aporus sp.

Dipigon calipterus nubifer

Episyryon conterminus posterus

Spider Wasp, Evagetes sp.?

Notocyphus dorsalis

Tarantula Hawk, Pepsis mexicana

Tarantula Hawk, Pepsis mildei

Tarantula Hawk,
Pepsis pallidolimbata

Tarantula Hawk, Pepsis thisbe

Tarantula Hawk, Pepsis sp.

Spider Wasp, Psorthaspis planata

Red tailed Spider Hunter, Tachypompilus unicolor
 
Pteromalidae (Pteromalid Wasps)
Green/bronze coloration; metallic, well-armoured body; antennae long, with 8-13 segments including up to 3 annelli); narrow neck; short pronotum with a wider sculptured mesoscutum; wing with postmarginal and stigmal vein well-developed. USDA. Terminology and Anatomy.

Mesopolobus sp.

Pteromalus sp.

PBPte1

PBPte2

PBPte3

Pteromalid Wasp

Pteromalid Wasp

Pteromalid Wasp

Pteromalid Wasp

Pteromalid Wasp

Pteromalid Wasp

Pteromalid Wasp

Pteromalid Wasp

Pteromalid Wasp

Pteromalid Wasp
Parasitoid from Saltbush Stem Gall        

PBPte14
       
Club-horned Wasps (Sapygidae) Scoliidae (Scoliid Wasps) Signiphoridae (Hyperparasitic Wasps)

Club-horned Wasp, Sapyga sp.
 
Campsomeris pilipes

Campsomeris tolteca

Chartocerus sp.
Sphecidae (Sphecid Wasps)

Burrowing Wasp,
Ammophila sp.

Blue Mud Wasp,
Chlorion sp.

Grass-carrying Wasp,
Isodontia elegans


Grass-carrying Wasp,
Isodontia (mexicana?)

Thread-waisted Wasp,
Palmodes sp.

Cutworm Wasp,
Podalonia argentifrons

Cutworm Wasp,
Podalonia (mexicana?)

Podalonia sp.?

Thread-waisted Wasp,
Prionyx parkeri

Thread-waisted Wasp,
Prionyx thomae

Black and Yellow Mud Dauber,
Sceliphron caementarium

Great Golden Digger Wasp,
Sphex ichneumoneus

Burrowing Wasp,
Sphex lucae
 
Thynnidae (Thynnid Wasps)   Tiphiidae (Tiphiid Wasps)

Myzinum maculatum

 
Paratiphia sp.

Paratiphia sp.

Torymidae (Torymid Wasps)

Metallic green color; sculptured thorax; waist not distinct; laterally compressed abdomen; well-developed parapsidal sutures; fore-wings with long marginal wing veins and setae; stigmal vein very short (although sometimes with stigma very enlarged) so that apex of uncus almost touches anterior margin of forewing; swollen hind coxae and femurs; long exerted ovipositor in the female. USDA Terminology and Anatomy.
From Coyote Bush Bud Galls  

Torymus sp. (PBTor5) Female

PBTor5 Male

PBTor7 Female

PBTor7 Male
From Saltbush Stem Gall From Disc Gall on scrub oak

Torymus atriplicis, female
not sequenced yet

PBTor2, Female

PBTor2, Male

PBTor1, Female

PBTor1, Male
From Oak Apples on Scrub Oak From Disc Gall on Scrub Oak From Acorn Cup Gall

Torymus californicus, female (long ovipositor morph)

Torymus californicus, female (short ovipositor morph)

PBTor11

Unidentified Torymid #2 not sequenced yet

Torymus sp., female
not sequenced yet
From Oak Apple on Quercus chrysolepis From Hairy gall on Quercus chrysolepis From Leaf Gall on White Sage From Leafy Gall on wild rose

PBTor6 female

PBTor12

PBTor10

Torymid Wasp with red legs
not sequenced yet

Torymid Wasp, female
From Spikey Gall on wild rose      

Glyphomerus sp., female
       
Vespidae (True Wasps), Subfamily Eumeninae - Potter and Mason Wasps

Mason Wasp, Ancistrocerus sp.

Potter Wasp, Eumenes bollii

Potter Wasp, Eumenes crucifera

Potter Wasp, Eumenes verticalis

Potter Wasp, Eumenes sp.

Mason Wasp,
Euodynerus hidalgo hidalgo

Mason Wasp,
Euodynerus hidalgo viereckii

Mason Wasp, Euodynerus sp.

Mason Wasp, Euodynerus sp.

Mason Wasp, Euodynerus sp.

Mason Wasp, Stenodynerus sp.

Mason Wasp, Stenodynerus sp.

Mason Wasp,
Parancistrocerus declivatus

Mason Wasp,
Parancistrocerus sp.

Potter Wasp,
Subfamily Eumeninae
Vespidae (True Wasps), Subfamily Masarinae - Pollen Wasps

Pollen Wasp,
Pseudomasaris coquilletti

Pollen Wasp,
Pseudomasaris edwardsii
     
Vespidae (True Wasps), Subfamily Polistinae - Paper Wasps  

Western Paper Wasp, Mischocyttarus flavitarsis

Paper Wasp,
Polistes apachus

Paper Wasp,
Polistes aurifer

European Paper Wasp,
Polistes dominula

Paper Wasp,
Polistes dorsalis californicus

Common Paper Wasp,
Polistes exclamans
       
Vespidae (True Wasps), Subfamily Vespinae - Hornets and Yellowjackets      

Western Yellowjacket,
Vespula pensylvanica

California Yellowjacket,
Vespula sulphurea