Parancistrocerus pedestris - female

18 September 2015: While enjoying a view of Cooper Creek and Avondale Park in Denton, Texas we came upon this tiny (less than half-inch long) wasp preying on a green caterpillar that was actually longer than the wasp and perhaps weighed as much. After contacting BugGuide with the question of this tiny wasp's IDentity this is the response that came back.

Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
No Taxon (Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps)
Superfamily Vespoidea (Yellowjackets and Hornets, Paper Wasps; Potter, Mason and Pollen Wasps and allies)
Family Vespidae (Yellowjackets and Hornets, Paper Wasps; Potter, Mason and Pollen Wasps)
Subfamily Eumeninae (Potter and Mason Wasps)
Genus Parancistrocerus

The tiny dark brown to almost black (with yellow markings) wasp's IDentity apparently is Parancistrocerus pedestris. We were informed that a prior case from Illinois submitted to BugGuide and subsequently resolved had determined as much. The link to this prior case may be found here: http://bugguide.net/node/view/270959

Our submission to BugGuide may be found here: http://bugguide.net/node/view/1141338

Our sincere thanks to all at BugGuide who took time past and present to respond to this IDentity question for this tiny caterpillar-hunting wasp observed in the greater North Texas area.

Avondale Park is administered by the City of Denton, Texas.