Woodlands Historic Park Wasps

Female Blue-winged flower wasp (Family Scoliidae) at Woodlands Historic Park
Female Blue-winged Flower Wasp feeding on Sticky Boobialla, early November. The wasp is about 25mm long.

Female Blue-winged flower wasp (Family Scoliidae) at Woodlands Historic Park

We can tell this is a female because of the relatively short antennae - compare the photo on the next page. As such it can be one of two species, Austroscolia soror or Australelis anthracina. The male of Australelis anthracina has a yellow spot on the abdomen (see Australelis anthracina photo) but the female may not have this. The two species can be distinguished by wing venation but this is not clear from these photos.

Classification

from Australian Faunal Directory

Order Hymenoptera - Wasps, Ants, Bees and Sawflies, 12202 named species in Australia
Family Scoliidae - Hairy Flower Wasps, 20 named species in Australia, 5 in Victoria
Genus ?
Species ?