Hedychrum rutilans Insect Solitary Cuckoo Wasp Parasitoid Hymenoptera Chrysididae

Hedychrum rutilans mm  Insect Solitary Cuckoo Wasp Parasitoid Hymenoptera Chrysididae.
Family: Chrysididae.
Common name: Rainbow Cuckoo Wasp.
Syn. Hedychrum intermedium.

Hedychrum rutilans is a species of Cuckoo Wasp, a Hymenopteran insect of the Chrysididae family. The species is mainly present in the Paleatic region and in North Africa.
The head and thorax are metallic green with red spots, while the abdomen is red. The color is greener and partially golden in the male and more extensively red-golden in the female. The body is a little hairy.
Hedychrum rutilans is a kleptoparasite and parasitoid of wolf-bee larvae (Philanthus triangulum and Philanthus coronatus), which are themselves parasitic wasps. The adults grow up to 4-10 mm in length and can be found from the end of June to September, often feeding on flowers of Mentha species, Achillea millefolium and Euphorbia paralias, but also on honeydew or various exudates. They prefer sandy, warm habitats.
4 subspecies are known: H. r. rutilans, H. r. subparvulum, H. r. viridiauratum, H. r.viridiaureum.