Chrysis ignita

Ruby-tailed Wasp Chrysis ignita (Linnaeus, 1758)
This stunning solitary wasp is one of the few insects which really does live up to it's common name. It's bright metallic blue and red colouration makes it relatively easy to identify, even in flight. The Ruby-tailed Wasp belongs to the Chrysididae family and is the most well known of the 31 UK species. There are other similarly coloured species within the family and identification is fraught with difficulty and virtually impossible without dissection. Females enter the nests of solitary bees to lay their eggs and the larvae feed on the host's brood until maturity. This colourful wasp is regularly found on or around fence posts, but rarely allows the opportunity for photographs.
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The records for the Nottinghamshire distribution map are currently provided by the following contributors - Trevor and Dilys Pendleton. Darren Matthews. Trevor and Dilys Pendleton (Sherwood Forest Invertebrate Directory 2014). Paul and Helen Brock. John and Denise Bingham. Brian Wetton.

You can contribute your own records to help us gain an accurate status of this species in Nottinghamshire. Send an Excel spreadsheet of your records via the 'contact us' link at the top of the homepage.

Updated January 2024


Nottinghamshire (VC56) distribution of Chrysis ignita