Approximately 16 mm long. One of many ichneumon wasps that look very similar. Males and females have different colours and patterns. Females have a band of orange-yellow on the abdomen with a black tip that has white spots on the last three segments. Males have a yellow and black abdomen without the white spots. Both have a black head and thorax with a yellow scutellum and with yellow hind tibia that have a black apical band.

It isn't possible to identify this species from photos - a specimen must be keyed.

Hedgerows, woodland rides, parks, gardens, and meadows. Often seen on the flowers of Umbellifers.

May to September

The female lays her eggs into the caterpillars of butterflies and moths particularly the Swift Moth and the larvae feed on the body of the host when they hatch.

Fairly frequent in England but few records from elsewhere in Britain.

Thoght to be fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.