Eucharis adscendens (Fabricius, 1787)

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Chalcidoidea, Eucharitidae, EucharitinaeNon-type female collected in RumaniaEucharis adscendens is the only Eucharitid species ever listed as part of the British and Irish fauna, but was last recorded in 1907 and is presumed to be extinct. All Eucharitidae species for which a host is known are parasitoids of ants: the females lay their eggs in plant tissue away from the host, and their larvae gain access to the ants nest by attaching themselves to foraging ants. The wasps larvae attach themselves to ant larvae and consume them once the host has pupated; adults emerge inside the nest and the ants, far from attacking them, groom them and carry them away if the colony is under attack. It is not known how long the adult Eucharitids can thus remain inside the ants nest, but they must leave it to mate.Photograph by Natalie Dale-Skey