Honeydew-feeder
Guides
Apiocera
Flower-loving Flies
Apiocera is the sole genus in the family Apioceridae, comprising approximately 150 species of flies commonly known as flower-loving flies. The genus is divided into four subgenera, each restricted to a different continent: Apiocera (Australia), Ripidosyrma (southern Africa), Pyrocera (North America), and Anypenus (South America). Despite their common name, most species do not visit flowers. The family was historically broader, with other genera now transferred to Mydidae.
Auplopus architectus architectus
Auplopus architectus architectus is a small spider-hunting wasp in the family Pompilidae. Females construct distinctive barrel-shaped mud cells to house their offspring, provisioning each cell with paralyzed spiders as food. The species is part of a genus known for unique nest-building behavior among pompilid wasps, which typically dig burrows rather than construct free-standing mud structures.
Auplopus mellipes mellipes
Auplopus mellipes mellipes is a small spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, tribe Auplopini. Females construct distinctive barrel-shaped mud cells to house their offspring, provisioning each cell with paralyzed spiders. The species belongs to a genus noted for opportunistic hunting of non-web-building spiders and for frequently utilizing pre-existing cavities or abandoned nests of other wasps as nest sites. Adults feed on honeydew from aphid colonies rather than visiting flowers.
Brachymeria flavipes
Brachymeria flavipes is a species of parasitic wasp in the family Chalcididae, first described by Fabricius in 1793. Like other members of the genus Brachymeria, it is a small wasp (3–6 mm) with characteristically enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. The species is a primary or secondary parasite of Lepidoptera and muscoid fly larvae, with adults emerging from host pupae. Specific biological details for B. flavipes are sparse in the literature, though genus-level traits suggest it likely shares the typical Brachymeria life history of attacking host larvae and completing development in approximately 20–27 days under favorable conditions.
Clitemnestra
Clitemnestra is a genus of small sand wasps in the family Crabronidae, containing at least 60 described species. Members of this genus are predatory wasps that hunt various sap-feeding insects, particularly planthoppers, leafhoppers, and related Hemiptera. The genus was revised by Bohart in 2000, which included the merger of the former genus Ochleroptera into Clitemnestra. These wasps are generally inconspicuous due to their small size, with some species measuring only 5–6 millimeters in body length.
Clitemnestra bipunctata
Clitemnestra bipunctata is a small sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, measuring approximately 5-6 millimeters in body length. The species was formerly classified under the genus Ochleroptera, but was merged into Clitemnestra by Bohart in 2000. It is widely distributed across North America and has been recorded from Cuba.
Lasius claviger
smaller yellow ant, common citronella ant, yellow ant, lemon ant, citronella ant
Lasius claviger, commonly known as the smaller yellow ant or citronella ant, is a North American ant species described by Roger in 1862. Formerly classified in the genus (now subgenus) Acanthomyops, it belongs to the genus Lasius. The species is notable for producing a distinctive lemony citronellal scent from glands near its jaws when disturbed, and for its habit of tending root-feeding aphids for honeydew. Winged reproductive forms swarm in late autumn and early winter, often causing concern when mistaken for termites.
Tapinoma sessile
odorous house ant, sugar ant, stink ant, coconut ant
Tapinoma sessile is a small, highly adaptable ant native to North America that has become one of the most common household pests in the United States. The species exhibits remarkable plasticity in social structure: forest colonies are small, monogynous, and inhabit single nests, while urban colonies achieve massive supercolony status through extreme polygyny (multiple queens) and polydomy (multiple interconnected nests). Workers produce a distinctive odor when crushed, historically described as coconut-like but chemically confirmed to match blue cheese due to shared methyl ketones. The species spreads primarily through budding rather than independent colony founding, and shows high tolerance to many common insecticides, contributing to its persistence as a pest.