Torymus nobilis

A member of the family Torymidae, this wasp is parasitoid of cynipid wasps.

The common gall hosts of this species are; Andricus quercusradicis agamic, A. testaceipes agamic, Biorhiza pallida sexual. The flight times for this wasp is february to may and again in september.

The female wasp measures in at 2.5-3.3mm, excluding ovipositor, with an average of 3mm.
The head is sculpted and dark metallic green with purple tints and white hairs. The eyes are red and the antennae are dark neutral brown with long sensillae and a yellow/brown scape. There is one ring and 7 funicular segments.
The thorax is a dark metallic purple/green with white hairs and sculptured with the notaulices being deep and full length. The wings are clear with mid brown veins and hairs. The stigmal veinn is shortish and the post marginal vein is also short. The legs have metallic purple coxae with testaceous ends with the rest being mid yellow brown. There are 5 tarsal segments.
The gaster (abdomen) is testaceous with a darker top at the base or with a band of purple bronze at the front and rear. The ovipositor sheath is mid length at 58% body length. It is hairy and dark brown at the top and paler below.

The male is 1.8-2.9mm averaging at 2.1mm in length.
The head is sculptured and very dark purple metallic with white hairs and red eyes. The antennae are all dark, hairy and with sensillae.
The thorax is again dark metallic purple, sculpted with white hairs and deep full length notaulices. The wings are transparent with mid brown hairs and veinswith short stigmal and post marginal veins. The legs have a metallic purple coxae with a pale end and the rest being brown/yellow and with 5 tarsi.
The gaster is quite long, broad and pointed. It is testaceous, banded with brown and with tinting to purple at the rear and a short patch of purple at the front.

More detailed descriptions and identification keys are available from Robin Williams at the British Plant Gall Society.

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