Ophion mocsaryi
Using Gavin Broad's key to nocturnal Ichneumonidae this keyed to mocsaryi but I recalled that confusus which isn't covered there (as it was described later, in 2019) also needed to be eliminated. Looking back at my record of confusus I could see that there were a number of differences between that individual and this one, including:
- The occipital carina was not as flatly rounded. It would be exaggerating to say it came to a point, but definitely approaching that more than the confusus.
- The punctures on the face were less prominent.
- I wasn't completely convinced, but I think the groove of posterior sulcus was shallower.
- The anterior transverse carina of the propodeum was distinct adjacent to area superomedia and very indistinct outside of this - the lateral extensions being much less distinct than on the confusus. Furthermore the lateral extensions on this were angled from the central section bordering area superomedia - on the confusus the whole anterior transverse carina was a smooth arc with no angle where it stopped bordering area superomedia.
- The longitudinal carinae adjacent to area superomedia were strong throughout, joining the anterior transverse carina to form a complete surround to area superomedia. On the confusus they had become very indistinct towards the transverse carina.
- The basal flagellomeres were proportionately longer. This character had concerned me when I was identifying the confusus as my measurements put the ratio of length to width at around 1.7 which was too high for confusus and at the bottom end of the range for mocsaryi, however compared to this one they were clearly shorter. My measurements of this one put the ratio at 2x which is even longer than it should be for mocsaryi, so maybe I'm measuring them wrong?
According to the Swedish Ophion by Johansson and Cederberg these all point to mocsaryi, and the experience makes me feel happier about my previous identification of the confusus.
It had 54 flagellomeres on each antenna.
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Ophion mocsaryi showing face (2 photos), mandible, forewing, antennae bases (with close-ups of first and second flagellomeres), head (3 views to show ocular-ocellar region, occipital carina, and groove of posterior sulcus), centre of forewing, hind femur, epicnemial carina (2 views), propodeal spiracle and propodeum (2 general views and 1 focusing on the area superomedia), North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 1st May 2024