Description and notes
Previously known as Omalus violaceus. Identification keys and general biology are given in Spooner (1954), Morgan (1984), Falk (1991) and Kunz (1994).
Distribution
Scarce, from South Devon to Kent, and north to North-east Yorkshire.
Overseas, the wasp occurs in Europe (including Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Poland, Hungary) and Asia (including Manchuria and Siberia).
Habitat
Often associated with gardens and habitats with dead wood including lowland heathland, coastal sand dunes, lowland wood pasture and parkland, fen marsh and swamp, and lowland dry acid grassland.
Flight period
Usually June to August, sometimes May, rarely April and September.
Flowers visited
Great burnet.
Parasites
No specific information found.