Pimpla rufipes

Length about 15 mm. A mainly black species, but with bright orange legs, the hind pair of legs being only slightly larger than the other pairs. The ovipositor of the female is quite thick and short and the 'waist' between the thorax and abdomen is also quite short.

Pimpla rufipes can easily be mistaken for Apechthis compunctor being similar in shape and size (10 –15mm), although some Pimpla rufipes are very large. The key difference between the two is in the female ovipositor which in P. rufipes is straight and lacks the downward curved tip. For this reason, the males, which don’t have an ovipositor, are indistinguishable from photographs.

There are other Pimpla species which can also be confused with P. rufipes which has no black rings on the tibia.

Females , Males

Hedgerows and well vegetated areas.

Mainly an autumn species.

Predates butterfly and moth larvae, laying an egg in each one. Adults can sometimes be seen visiting flowers.

Quite common and widespread in England and Wales at least, but like many Ichneumonidae it is badly under recorded.

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland.