Chrysis illigeri Wesmael,1839
Description and notes
Identification keys and general biology are given in Morgan (1984) and Falk (1991). Previously known as C. helleni Linsenmaier, 1959. Kunz (1994) considers C. bicolor Lepeletier, 1805 and C. illigeri to be the same species. Morgan (1984) separates these two names, with C. bicolor only known from Jersey.
Distribution
Cornwall to Kent, and north to Leicestershire and West Norfolk. (Morgan (1984) also gives Nottinghamshire, but no data are available). Jersey.
Overseas, the wasp occurs in Europe (including Norway, Sweden, Finland, The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Austria and Hungary).
Status (in Britain only)
This species was not listed in Shirt (1987), but was included by Falk (1991) (as C. helleni) in the category Notable B (now known as Nationally Scarce (Nb).
Habitat
Open sandy habitats such as lowland heathland, coastal sand dunes, gravel and sand pits.
Flight period
Females active from June to September but mainly during July and August. Males active from June to August but mainly during July.
Flowers visited
Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) and hemp-agrimony.
Parasites
No specific information found.
Parasitic biology
This wasp is a parasitoid on Tachysphex pompiliformis (see Atlas part 2).