1st March - Hotham Hymenoptera

Whilst looking for beetles, I also encountered a few hibernating wasps, which are equally as interesting and worth recording, particularly in respect to the ichneumons. 

Stenichneumon culpator is an Ichneumon wasp which I have already found earlier this year. A large indistinct species and one of many which are tricky to identify. Two individuals found today were in a similar situation to the last ones, beneath lifted bark on fallen logs. I have recorded this species more this winter than I did last summer showing the importance to keep looking and recording during the winter months too.

Ichneumon stramentor as usual was the most commonly occurring Ichneumon wasp found beneath lifted bark today. Three of these relatively large distinctive (for Ichneumons) wasps were found together beneath lifted bark on a log.

Vespula germanica was once again the only social wasp found beneath lifted bark today. I've now found more of this species than V. Vulgaris this winter. I always make a big effort to not wake them then carefully place them back without damaging their hibernation site, given each one of these queens can produce an entire colony during the summer.