This beautiful miniscule wasp was struggling in water. A gall wasp, probably from the subfamily Cynipinae. At first it seemed to me to be a specimen from the genus Xestophanes, but that is probably incorrect. Unfortunately it has proven difficult to find a name so far.

UPDATE 01/07/2024: Species Xestophanes potentillae

A long search for its identity finally came to a conclusion. Expert Jeremy Bowdrey, with special thanks to Simon Haarder for connecting us, confirms it is indeed Xestophanes potentillae, a female. Incredible that this magnificent creature got a name!

The species creates galls in plants from the genus Potentilla among which Creeping cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans) that I try to keep in check in the garden, but now will be on the look out for galls.

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Literature

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