ENSIGN WASP

any member of the insect family Evaniidae (order Hymenoptera), so called because the small, oval abdomen is held high like an ensign, or flag. A few hundred species of this widely distributed family have been described. The body, which is black and somewhat spider-like in appearance, ranges in length from about 1 to 1.5 centimetres (about 0.4 to 0.6 inch). All species are parasites of cockroaches, which are common household pests; thus, ensign wasps are beneficial to man. The female places its eggs in the cockroach's egg case. Evania appendigaster is a common North American species.