DELIGHTED conservationists have spotted a wasp never before seen in Britain at a new Wyre Forest nature reserve.

The incredible discovery of the parasitoid Diphyus latebricola was made by a member of the Wyre Forest Study Group at the Helen Mackaness nature reserve.

The group had been contracted to survey the site, which was established in 2017, by its owner Worcestershire Wildlife Trust as a first step in managing it.

Andy Harris, conservation officer responsible for the nature reserve, said: “This is a fantastic find on one of our newest nature reserves.

“It’s only a small grassland that includes wet flushes and dry meadow with a stand of mature oak trees and an old orchard so to have found something this rare is a really pleasant surprise.”

The wasp doesn’t have a common name and very little is known about it but it is hoped that future observations will reveal more.

It is known from Europe but has never been recorded in the UK before. Experts believe, as its appearance is in the West Midlands, it is likely that it has been present in the UK for some time but not been discovered.

Jaswinder Boparai, who identified the species said: “It’s always exciting to find a new species of parasitoid wasp new to Britain.

“We know surprisingly little about the biology of these species and we really need to preserve the habitats that they live in, in the hope of learning more about how they can further contribute to the world we live in.”