Amblyteles armatorius

Amblyteles armatorius can reach a length of 12–16 mm, excluding antennae, that reach about 9 millimetres (0.35 in). The head and thorax of this large wasp are black, except the yellow scutellum. The abdomen is yellow and more oval in the females, with broad black bands. Legs are yellow, except the hind legs, that are black and yellow. This species lacks the sting, so the characteristic markings of many aculeate wasps represent a protective mimicry.[9] [10] The female lacks also the long ovipositor present in most of the ichneumon wasps.[11]

Adults can be usually found in summer on flowers, especially Apiaceae species, feeding on nectar and pollen. The adults overwinter. The females of this parasitic wasp lay their eggs into the caterpillars of moths. When they hatch larvae feed on their hosts, mainly Noctuidae and Notodontidae, but also some Geometridae, Erebidae, Saturniidae and Lasiocampidae (Calliteara pudibunda, Odontopera bidentata, Macrothylacia rubi and Saturnia pavonia).[12]

This species is present in most of Europe, in the Near East, in the Nearctic ecozone and in the Oriental ecozone.[13] These wasps usually occur in hedgerows, meadows and spruce forest edges.[12]