Omalus aeneus (Fabricius,1787)
Description and notes
Identification keys and general biology are given in Krombein (1967), Morgan (1984) and Kunz (1994). Great care must be taken when distinguishing this species from O. puncticollis.
Distribution
Devon to Kent and north to North Yorkshire.
Europe (including Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Poland, Hungary), north Africa, western Asia and North America.
Status (in Britain only)
This species is not regarded as being scarce or threatened.
Habitat
Found in the open habitats of its stem and wood-nesting hosts.
Flight period
May to August but usually during July, rarely during May.
Flowers visited
Bird’s-foot-trefoil, hogweed and knotweeds.
Parasites
No information available.
Parasitic biology
A brood parasite on species of Crabonidae, subfamily Pemphredoninae, including the genera Psen, Psenulus, Pemphredon, and Passaloecus. The parasite overwinters as a diapausing larva, pupating in the late spring.