Beautiful wasp for first time in the Netherlands

Chrysis equestris, photo by Maarten Jacobs

Translated from the Dutch EIS Kenniscentrum Insecten entomologists:

14 December 2015 – In the summer of 2015 a very beautiful coloured emerald wasp was found in the Weerterbos nature reserve [in Limburg province]. It took a long time before people knew which species the small animal was, but after consultation with emerald wasp experts it turned out to be Chrysis equestris. This is a new species for the Netherlands.

This is a parasitical wasp. Chrysis equestris females lay their eggs in nests of another wasp species, Discoelius zonalis.