Leucospis sinensis
Leucospis sinensis is a chalcid wasp in the Leucospidae family. The species was first described by the English entomologist Francis Walker in 1862. The Latin species epithet sinensis means "Chinese." Originating from East Asia, the first sightings of this species were reported in Germany and Austria in 2025.
Description
The females are about 14 mm long. The chalcid wasps are predominantly black. The scapus is partially yellow ventrally. The pronotum has two long yellow to reddish-brown transverse stripes. On the mesoscutum there are two small yellow or reddish-brown spots submedially. The mesoscutellum has a U-shaped yellow or reddish-brown spot posteriorly. The metapleurae are reddish-brown, the wings brownish, and the posterior coxae apically reddish-brown. The posterior femora are yellow ventrobasally and dorsoapically. On the propodeum there is a yellow or reddish-brown spot in the center of the posterior part. A broad yellow transverse band runs across tergite T1. The tergite T5 has a yellow transverse band at the back.The pronotum has a weak discal keel and distinct premarginal keels. The posterior femora have a row of nine teeth ventrally, with the basal tooth being much shorter than the following six teeth. The posterior tibiae merge ventroapically into a spine. The medially arched propodeum has a weakly pronounced median keel. The metasoma is strongly convex dorsally and medially. Tergites T5 and T6 have a central longitudinal groove into which the ovipositor is folded when at rest. Tergite T1 has a smooth, weak median groove. The medium-sized drill valves are only half the length of tergite T5, according to other sources, 0.8 times the length.
In males, the abdominal segments fuse together to form an armor-like structure, similar to other Leucospis species. The coloration of the posterior abdomen differs from that of females. Instead of one yellow transverse band, males have two.