Hymenoptera
Guides
Exyston maculosum
Exyston maculosum is a species of ichneumon wasp in the subfamily Ctenopelmatinae. Members of this genus are parasitoids, with females laying eggs in host insects. The species exhibits the characteristic features of Exyston, including a robust body and distinct coloration patterns.
Exyston reniformis
Exyston reniformis is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Mason in 1959. The species name 'reniformis' refers to kidney-shaped structures, likely describing a diagnostic morphological feature. As a member of the subfamily Ichneumoninae, it is presumed to be a koinobiont endoparasitoid of Lepidoptera larvae, though specific host associations remain undocumented. The genus Exyston is small and poorly studied, with most species known from limited specimens.
Fenella
Fenella is a genus of sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae, order Hymenoptera. These insects are part of the suborder Symphyta, which includes sawflies, horntails, and woodwasps—distinguished from other Hymenoptera by the lack of a narrow 'wasp waist' (petiole) between thorax and abdomen. The genus was established by A. Adams in 1864. Fenella species are relatively small, understudied sawflies with limited published ecological data.
Fenusa julia
Fenusa julia is a species of sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae, described in 2017 by Smith and Eiseman. It belongs to a genus of leaf-mining sawflies whose larvae feed internally on leaf tissue. The species is known from very few observations.
Fenusa pumila
birch leafminer, Birch Leafminer Sawfly
Fenusa pumila is a sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae, commonly known as the birch leafminer. Native to Europe, it has been introduced to North America where it has become established. The species is a specialist leaf-mining herbivore on birch trees, with larvae feeding internally within leaf tissue. In North America, populations may complete two to four generations annually, with adult emergence triggered by accumulated growing degree-days.
Fenusini
Fenusini is a tribe of sawflies within the family Tenthredinidae. Members are leaf-mining insects whose larvae feed internally within plant tissues. The tribe includes economically significant pests such as the birch leafminer (Fenusa pusilla).
Feron stellare
Sunburst Gall Wasp
Feron stellare is a cynipid gall wasp that induces distinctive galls on oak trees (Quercus species). The species was originally described as Andricus stellaris by Weld in 1926 before being transferred to the genus Feron. It is known for producing sunburst-patterned galls that serve as both shelter and food source for developing larvae. The wasp exhibits the typical complex life cycle of many Cynipidae, often involving alternating sexual and asexual generations on different oak hosts or plant parts.
Figitinae
Figitinae is a subfamily of parasitoid wasps within Figitidae. Members are small to minute wasps that develop as parasitoids of other insects. The subfamily includes genera with broad geographic distributions, including species found across the American continent.
Filacus
Filacus is a genus of sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae, established by Smith & Gibson in 1984. As a member of the Hymenoptera order, these insects are characterized by a broad connection between the thorax and abdomen, lacking the constricted 'wasp waist' seen in many related groups. The genus is recognized within the diverse sawfly fauna, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in available literature.
Filacus pluricinctellus
Filacus pluricinctellus is a species of sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae. The genus Filacus is a small group within this family, and F. pluricinctellus is one of the few described species. It is known from a limited number of observations, primarily in western North America. As with other sawflies, the larvae are likely herbivorous, though specific host plants remain undocumented.
Formica
wood ants, mound ants, field ants
Formica is a large and ecologically significant genus of ants in the subfamily Formicinae, commonly known as wood ants, mound ants, or field ants. The genus includes species with diverse life histories, ranging from free-living colony founders to facultative and obligate social parasites. Many species construct conspicuous earthen mounds that can reach several feet in diameter and height, while others nest in dead wood. Formica ants are notable for their complex social structures, including both single-queen (monogynous) and multiple-queen (polygynous) colonies, with social organization sometimes controlled by supergenes. The genus serves as host for specialized slave-making ants in the genus Polyergus and supports diverse communities of myrmecophilous organisms.
Formica biophilica
Wilson's Field Ant
Formica biophilica is a North American ant species in the genus Formica, described by James Trager in 2007. It belongs to the fusca group within Formica, a diverse assemblage of ants often characterized by their association with open habitats and varied ecological roles. The species epithet 'biophilica' reflects an affinity for living systems or biological environments. Like many Formica species, it participates in complex ecological interactions within its native range, though specific natural history details remain limited in published literature.
Formica comata
Formica comata is a species of ant in the genus Formica, family Formicidae. The species was described by Wheeler in 1909. Very little specific information about its biology, behavior, or ecology has been documented in the available literature.
Formica dolosa
Wily Field Ant
Formica dolosa is a species of field ant in the genus Formica, family Formicidae. Described by Buren in 1944, this species is part of a large and taxonomically complex genus containing numerous social parasites and free-living species. Like many Formica species, it is likely a generalist in its ecological habits, though specific details of its biology remain limited in the available literature. The species epithet "dolosa" (meaning "wily" or "deceitful") reflects its perceived behavioral characteristics.
Formica francoeuri
Francoeur's Field Ant
Formica francoeuri is a species of field ant in the genus Formica, family Formicidae. It was described by Bolton in 1995. The species is part of the diverse Formica genus, which includes many North American ant species with varied ecological strategies including social parasitism. As a member of the Formicinae subfamily, it lacks a stinger and instead uses formic acid for defense.
Formica knighti
Formica knighti is a species of ant in the genus Formica, first described by Buren in 1944. The species belongs to the diverse and ecologically significant genus Formica, which includes many species with complex social behaviors including social parasitism. Like other members of Formica, F. knighti is a social insect living in colonies with a division of labor among workers, queens, and males. Specific natural history details for this species remain limited in published literature.
Formica montana
prairie mound ant
Formica montana, commonly known as the prairie mound ant, is a North American ant species in the genus Formica. Colonies are frequently polygynous, with up to 20 queens documented in a single nest. The species constructs characteristic mound nests in prairie habitats.
Formica obtusopilosa
Blunt-haired Mound Ant
Formica obtusopilosa is a species of mound-building ant in the family Formicidae, described by Carlo Emery in 1893. It belongs to the large genus Formica, which includes many species known for constructing prominent soil mounds. The species epithet 'obtusopilosa' refers to blunt or obtuse hairs, a morphological characteristic used in its identification. Like other Formica species, it is a social insect living in colonies with a division of labor among workers, queens, and males.
Formica propinqua
Formica propinqua is a species of ant in the genus Formica, first described by Creighton in 1940. It belongs to the large and diverse Formicinae subfamily, which includes many familiar ant species. The specific epithet 'propinqua' suggests close relationship to other taxa, though detailed natural history information for this species remains limited in available sources.
Formica querquetulana
Formica querquetulana is a species of ant in the family Formicidae, described by Kennedy and Dennis in 1937. It belongs to the genus Formica, one of the largest and most widespread ant genera in the Northern Hemisphere. Very little specific information about this species' biology, ecology, or distribution has been documented in the available literature.
Formicidae
Ants
Formicidae is a diverse family of eusocial insects comprising an estimated 12,500–22,000 described species globally, with approximately 14,000 species formally classified. Ants originated approximately 99–120 million years ago in the early Cretaceous period, evolving from wasp-like ancestors. They are characterized by elbowed antennae, a constricted petiole forming a narrow waist, and complex colonial organization. Ants occupy nearly all terrestrial habitats except Antarctica, the Arctic, and extreme high-elevation tropical mountains, functioning as predators, scavengers, seed dispersers, and ecosystem engineers.
Formicoidea
ants
Formicoidea is a superfamily within the order Hymenoptera comprising ants and their extinct relatives. The group originated approximately 120 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous from vespoid wasp ancestors. Formicoidea is defined by the inclusion of the family Formicidae (living and fossil ants) and the extinct family †@@@idae, which includes the mid-Cretaceous genera †Camelomecia and †Camelosphecia. The superfamily is characterized by eusocial behavior, a distinct narrow petiole (waist), and metapleural glands. Ants within Formicoidea represent one of the most ecologically dominant and diverse groups of terrestrial insects, with more than 13,800 described species and estimates of up to 22,000 total species.
Foxia
Foxia is a genus of cleptoparasitic wasps in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae. The genus comprises 10 described species distributed across arid regions of the New World, from the United States south through Chile and Argentina. These wasps are obligate cleptoparasites, meaning they exploit the nests and provisions of other wasp species rather than constructing their own nests or hunting prey directly.
Foxia pacifica
Foxia pacifica is a species of sand wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae. It was described by Ashmead in 1898. The species is part of the genus Foxia, which belongs to the tribe Nyssonini. Based on the family-level classification and the genus name, members of Foxia are likely cleptoparasitic wasps that exploit the nests of other ground-nesting hymenopterans.
Gasteruption visaliae
Carrot Wasp
Gasteruption visaliae is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Gasteruptiidae, commonly known as carrot wasps. The species exhibits the distinctive family traits of an elongated neck, slender body, and enlarged hind tibiae. Like other gasteruptiids, it is presumed to parasitize solitary bees and wasps nesting in twigs or wood borings, though specific host records for this species remain limited. Females possess a long ovipositor for accessing host nests.
Gastrodynerus vanduzeei
Gastrodynerus vanduzeei is a species of potter wasp in the subfamily Eumeninae, described by Bohart in 1948. The genus Gastrodynerus is a small group within the Vespidae, and this species is among the least documented members of the family. Very few observations or collections have been recorded, with iNaturalist showing only four observations total. The specific epithet honors the entomologist Edward P. Van Duzee.
Giraudia
Giraudia is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae. The genus is also homonymous with a genus of brown algae (Phaeophyceae) in the family Chordariaceae, which has been studied for ecotypic differentiation between temperate and subtropical populations. The wasp genus is placed within the hyperdiverse parasitoid wasp family Ichneumonidae, though specific biological details remain poorly documented. The algal genus is known from marine environments in the North Atlantic, with documented populations in Danish waters and the Canary Islands.
Glyphicnemis mandibularis
Glyphicnemis mandibularis is a species of ichneumonid wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. It was first described by Cresson in 1864. The genus Glyphicnemis belongs to the large and diverse parasitoid wasp family Ichneumonidae, which are primarily known for their role as parasitoids of other insects. Available records indicate this species has been observed in the Edmonton area of Canada, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Glyphicnemis vulgaris
Glyphicnemis vulgaris is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Luhman in 1986. The genus Glyphicnemis belongs to the large and diverse ichneumonid lineage, which comprises parasitoid wasps that typically attack other insects. Very little specific information has been published about this particular species.
Glyphomerus
Glyphomerus is a genus of chalcidoid wasps in the family Torymidae, subfamily Glyphomerinae. Species are parasitoids of gall-forming insects, particularly cynipid wasps. At least one species, G. stigma, exhibits entomophytophagy, consuming gall tissue after feeding on host larvae. The genus is distributed across the Palearctic and Nearctic regions, with documented associations with rose gall wasps in the genus Diplolepis.
Glypta animosa
Glypta animosa is a species of ichneumon wasp described by Cresson in 1870. The genus Glypta comprises parasitoid wasps that develop inside the bodies of host insects, with larvae consuming their hosts from within. Like other members of Ichneumonidae, this species likely targets lepidopteran larvae as hosts. The species is rarely documented, with only four observations recorded on iNaturalist.
Glyptocolastes
Glyptocolastes is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, established by Ashmead in 1900. Members of this genus belong to the large and diverse ichneumonoid wasp lineage. The genus contains relatively few documented species and is poorly represented in biological collections and literature.
Glyptocolastes texanus
Glyptocolastes texanus is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, first described by William H. Ashmead in 1900. It belongs to a genus of braconid wasps whose members are typically associated with parasitizing beetle larvae. The species is recorded from Hawaii and the continental United States.
Golbachia wrighti
Golbachia wrighti is a species of scoliid wasp in the family Scoliidae. The genus Golbachia is a small group within the subfamily Campsomerinae, which comprises parasitoid wasps that attack scarab beetle larvae. Information specific to G. wrighti is limited in the available sources, though the genus shares biological characteristics with related campsomerine wasps.
Gonatocerus rivalis
Gonatocerus rivalis is a species of fairyfly in the family Mymaridae, described by Girault in 1911. The species is known from limited distribution records in North America and Venezuela. As a member of the genus Gonatocerus, it is presumed to be an egg parasitoid, though specific host associations for this species have not been documented. The species is among the smaller members of the family, which are among the smallest insects known.
Goniozus columbianus
Goniozus columbianus is a species of parasitic wasp in the family Bethylidae. Like other members of this family, it is presumed to be an ectoparasitoid of insect larvae, though specific host records for this species are not well documented. The genus Goniozus contains species that are known to attack lepidopteran caterpillars. This species has been recorded from at least one observation.
Gorytina
Gorytina is a subtribe of digger wasps within the tribe Bembicini, family Crabronidae. These wasps are solitary and typically nest in soil, with many species specializing on particular prey types. The subtribe includes approximately 20 genera distributed globally, with notable diversity in North America. Members are distinguished from other Bembicini by morphological features of the clypeus and labrum.
Gravenhorstiini
Gravenhorstiini is a large tribe of parasitoid wasps within the family Ichneumonidae, subfamily Anomaloninae. The tribe encompasses all genera of Anomaloninae except the type genus Anomalon. Members are parasitoids, with females laying eggs in or on host insects. The tribe is taxonomically significant as it represents the primary diversification of the subfamily Anomaloninae.
Gyranusoidea
Gyranusoidea is a genus of encyrtid parasitoid wasps established by Compere in 1947. The genus contains species that are primary parasitoids of mealybugs (Pseudococcidae), with several species deployed as biological control agents for agricultural pest management. Gyranusoidea tebygi is the most extensively studied species, introduced from India to West Africa in 1987 to control the invasive mango mealybug Rastrococcus invadens, where it established readily and achieved significant pest suppression. Other species such as G. indica have been reported as parasitoids of additional mealybug pests including Maconellicoccus hirsutus.
Habrolepis
Habrolepis is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Species in this genus are endoparasitoids of armored scale insects (family Diaspididae). The genus was established by Foerster in 1856. Documented species include H. rouxi and H. diaspidi, both associated with diaspidid scale hosts. These wasps have been studied for their potential as biological control agents against agricultural pest scales.
Halictus confusus arapahonum
Arapaho Metallic-Furrow bee
Halictus confusus arapahonum is a subspecies of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, described by Cockerell in 1906. As a member of the genus Halictus, it is likely a primitively eusocial or solitary ground-nesting bee. The nominate species Halictus confusus is known as the Confusing Furrow Bee or Metallic-Furrow bee. This subspecies is distinguished by geographic range and subtle morphological differences from other populations of H. confusus. Like other halictids, adults are generalist pollinators that visit diverse flowering plants.
Haltichella onatas
Haltichella onatas is a species of chalcid wasp in the family Chalcididae, first described by Walker in 1843. Like other members of the genus Haltichella, it belongs to the subfamily Haltichellinae, a group characterized by specific morphological features of the hind femora. The species is part of the diverse Chalcidoidea superfamily, one of the largest groups of parasitoid wasps. Information on its biology and host associations remains limited in available literature.
Haltichellinae
Haltichellinae is a subfamily of chalcidid wasps in the family Chalcididae, established by Ashmead in 1904. Members of this subfamily are parasitoid wasps, though specific biological details remain poorly documented. The subfamily contains multiple genera and has been recorded in thousands of observations, indicating moderate taxonomic activity.
Halticoptera
Halticoptera is a genus of chalcid wasps in the family Pteromalidae. Species in this genus are koinobiont endoparasitoids of agromyzid leafminer flies (Diptera: Agromyzidae). They have been investigated as biological control agents for leafminer pests, though host suitability varies significantly between indigenous and invasive host species.
Hartigiini
Hartigiini is a tribe of stem sawflies in the family Cephidae. Members are characterized by their elongated, cylindrical bodies and reduced wing venation relative to other sawflies. The tribe contains several genera distributed primarily in the Holarctic region. These insects are associated with woody plants, where larvae develop internally in stems.
Hedychridium dimidiatum
Hedychridium dimidiatum is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. These small, brilliantly metallic wasps are nest parasites of predatory solitary wasps, particularly beewolves in the genus Philanthus. The species has been documented as a suspected parasite of Philanthus gibbosus in North America. Like other chrysidids, females enter host nests to lay eggs, and when threatened can roll into a tight ball where their dense, sculptured cuticle protects them from stings and bites.
Hedychridium fletcheri
Hedychridium fletcheri is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. The genus Hedychridium comprises brilliantly colored wasps with metallic blue, green, and red coloration. These wasps are nest parasites of predatory, solitary wasps. The specific epithet "fletcheri" suggests the species was named in honor of an individual with that surname, though the exact etymology is not documented in available sources.
Hedychridium solierellae
Hedychridium solierellae is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Members of this genus are among the most brilliantly colored of the chrysidids, exhibiting bright metallic blues, greens, and reds. These wasps are nest parasites of predatory, solitary wasps. The genus Hedychridium is part of the diverse cuckoo wasp family Chrysididae, which comprises kleptoparasitic species that lay their eggs in the nests of other wasps and bees.
Hedychrum violaceum
Hedychrum violaceum is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Cuckoo wasps are kleptoparasites, laying their eggs in the nests of other wasp species where their larvae consume the host's provisions. The species exhibits the characteristic metallic coloration typical of the genus Hedychrum. Like other members of its family, it is associated with open, sandy habitats where its hosts nest.
Heimbra opaca
Heimbra opaca is a species of chalcid wasp in the family Eurytomidae, first described by Ashmead in 1894. Originally placed in the genus Euperilampus, it was later transferred to Heimbra. This small parasitic wasp belongs to a family known for attacking various insect hosts, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented. The species has been recorded from Brazil.