Ophion scutellaris

I used Gavin Broad's key to nocturnal Ichneumonidae to identify this. It had a forewing length of 17mm and there were 68 flagellomeres on each antenna. The close up photos below show the slender hind femur and the coxa being relatively small compared to the pleural area of the propodeum, both characters that help differentiate scutellaris from some similar species.

Ophion scutellaris showing right hand forewing and hindwing, hind femur and hind coxa and propodeum, Dillington Carr (Norfolk, UK), 28th March 2022

This one had 68-69 flagellomeres on each antenna.

male Ophion scutellaris showing mandibles, ocellar-ocular interspacen and hind femur, Dillington Carr (Norfolk, UK), 18th March 2024

I'm not sure what reference I used to identify the next two - I rarely bothered to look at ichneumons back then. However based on what little I know now, the IDs look correct and the dates are right for this early-spring species.

Ophion scutellaris showing right hand forewing and hindwing, hind femur and hind coxa and propodeum, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 28th March 2017

Ophion scutellaris showing right hand forewing and hindwing, hind femur and hind coxa and propodeum, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 29th March 2017