Leucospidae

Taxonomy

Leucospidae family wasps parasitize stem and wood nesting bees and wasps. Leucospis is the only genus in this family in Minnesota. They were uncommon in Bee Atlas blocks, occurring in a few locations in the southeastern part of the state. If you see Leu. genera listed for your block, we were not able to positively identify it to the genus level because the specimen was partial or damaged.

Description

These wasps can be quite small or as large as a bee. They look rather hunchbacked and are often yellow and black with the hind femurs greatly enlarged and toothed on the underside, and the tibias are bowed out. The wings have very few veins in them, and they have a long ovipositor that is curved up over their backs. Tegula are elongated.