Netelia virgata

Using Gavin Broad's key to nocturnal Ichneumonidae this keys fairly straightforwardly to Netelia virgata. I think that must be the correct ID as the dark bars on the mesoscutum seem not to be present on many (any?) of the other Netelia and the genitalia have some unusual features too (especially the strip of dark, papillate cuticles). However the draft updated version of the Netelia key seems to suggest that virgata should have "Scutellum with lateral carinae absent or weak, not extending much beyond mid-length" whereas the lateral carinae on this one's scutellum extended to the apex (not very strongly, but clear enough). In view of the other characters I'm happy that it is virgata anyway, though please shout if you disagree.

male Netelia virgata showing forewing, head and thorax from above and side, head from behind, abdomen tip from side, scutellum and genitalia (with close-up of apex), Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 21st August 2023

This one was on its last legs when I pulled it out from my garden moth trap, covered in moth scales. The ID seemed straightforward, though as I'm sending my testacous ichneumons to the Natural History Museum this year for their noctural wasp project I didn't open out the parameres to view the internal structures. This time the scutellar carinae were as they should be - strong only at the base, much weakening towards the apex (though still discernible close to the apex).

male Netelia virgata showing head from behind, wings, close-up of forewing veins 1cu-a and M&RS, thorax from side, mesoscutum, scutellum and parameres (both sides), North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 5th August 2024