Ruby-tailed wasp

Parnopes grandior

Magnified colour photograph of a Ruby Tailed Wasp by Levon Biss

Ruby-tailed wasps are famed for their bright colours. Also known as cuckoo wasps, most species are parasites of other solitary wasps or bees. The exoskeleton is heavily sculptured with indentations and extremely tough, providing effective armour against the stings of their hosts.

Collector: Kenneth Guichard
France, 1967

The collector of this wasp, Kenneth Guichard, was an English amateur entomologist who loved collecting insects so much that he joined the British Army to travel to warmer climates and find different species. This army position led Guichard into a role working on locust control, through which he was able to travel to Africa and the Middle East. He continued to travel and collect insects throughout his life, donating his collections to museums around the UK.

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