Microterys tricoloricornis

Description

Females: Middle tibia is covered in fine, silky hairs (c.f. M. nietneri). Lateral view of the antennae: M. tricoloricornis F4-6 white all round (c.f. M. seyon F4-6 white on top but darker underneath). Mesoscutum and scutellum at most all dirty yellow, head width more than 5x as wide as frontovertex, frontovertex at most 3x diameter of ocellus. 
Males are very different in appearance, small dark insects which cannot reliably be identified to species. 

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Unless identified by a recognised expert detailed photos of key features required. 

When to see it

All year.

Life History

Endoparasitoid of scale insects. Widely used as biological control in horticulture. 

UK Status

Widespread but rarely recorded.

VC55 Status

Unknown.

Further Information

Japoshvili, G. (2011) Revision of Microterys Thomson (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) of the MNCN including species distributed in Iberian Peninsula. In Annales de la Société entomologique de France (Vol. 47, No. 1-2, pp. 193-201). Taylor & Francis Group.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
Bees, Wasps, Ants
Kingdom:
Order:
Family:
Records on NatureSpot:
1
First record:
24/02/2026 (Cann, Alan)
Last record:
24/02/2026 (Cann, Alan)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records