[Antonius]

Can anyone tell me what this is? I have had three of them in my polytunnel happily hovering around. I've even had one land in the palm of my hand,but I must admit I was a little nervous,I was half expecting to be stung.

[8doubles]

Here you go , third row down far right.

http://www.pbase.com/tmurray74/ichneumon_wasps

One of the good guys i think.

[Antonius]

Cheers for the link 8doubles That Looks very similar to mine,a little different in the colourings,but I think you are spot on with the pics. Cheers again

[Hey Jude]

I can't believe there's that many varieties (if that's the right word...or is it species?)

[Salmo]

There are over 3,000 species of ichneumon wasps in the UK. These parasitic wasps lay their eggs on, near or into lavae of other insects, often caterpillars, and when they hatch they eat their host from the inside.

They are usually specific to a host insect. Certainly goodies as far as the gardener is concerned.

[diggerjoe]

OH panics when they get in the house I have to rescue them before he wields the spray can  -  I think its having been brought up in a London Flat 6 floors up they are all new to him 

[Comfortably Numb]

There are over 3,000 species of ichneumon wasps in the UK. These parasitic wasps lay their eggs on, near or into lavae of other insects, often caterpillars, and when they hatch they eat their host from the inside.

They are usually specific to a host insect. Certainly goodies as far as the gardener is concerned.

I noticed one a few days ago digging a tunnel among my leeks. The following morning it had finished digging and was in the process of dragging quite a large green caterpillar down into the hole. They paralyse the caterpillar so that the egg hatches onto live food