Minute Ripping Wasp
This animal was very small, about 2mm. It was foraging on an Artichoke leaf that hosts lots of small insects, e.g. thirps. It was observed ripping the surface of the plant with its mouth. It hardly ever rose its head but kept going forward. The leaf actually made a bend that looked like a wall to the animal and it looked as if it gave that wall an occasional head butt. This insect has not been identified properly. It could also be a flighted ant. The long segmented antennae seem to have a bend at the top third. But the slender, long body with a narrow waist points to a small wasp. Two lateral compound eyes and a few oculi on the top of its head. At least two of them are raised. Wings are long and have a hairy texture. They overlap when animal is rested. Long legs, with quite an impressive spike, mainly on front legs. I didn't observe any egg laying and there seems no externally visible ovipostor, just a pointed end of its body. As usual: I made the name up for my own learning purposes. It is based on my observations and should not be followed.
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