After keeping a swallowtail chrysalis all this past winter and spring, my patience was rewarded not with a soft fluttering of wings, but a harsh papery buzz. The chrysalis, it seems, had been incubating a wasp all the while.
I feel like a kid whose long-awaited birthday present turned out to be socks. However, even socks have their uses, and there are a lot of kids in this world who would be grateful for a pair. Likewise, there are probably hymenopterists who would much prefer my wasp. So I'm wondering if there are any ichneumon specialists out there who might be able to help me identify the species I have, which is a translucent umber-brown with a curiously segmented abdomen. If you might be able to help--or if you can recommend someone who could--please email me off-list, and I'll be glad to send photos and more information.
