Hymenoptera
Guides
Helcostizus tibialis
Helcostizus tibialis is a species of ichneumon wasp described by Townes in 1962. It belongs to the family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families of wasps, whose members are primarily parasitoids of other insects. The genus Helcostizus is part of the ichneumonoid wasp radiation, and species in this group typically parasitize lepidopteran or coleopteran hosts. The specific epithet 'tibialis' refers to a characteristic of the tibia, a common naming convention in Hymenoptera taxonomy.
Helorimorphini
Helorimorphini is a tribe of parasitoid wasps within the family Braconidae. Members are koinobiont endoparasitoids, meaning they develop inside living hosts without immediately killing them. The tribe is relatively small and understudied, with most species associated with lepidopteran hosts.
Hemipepsis toussainti
Hemipepsis toussainti is a species of tarantula hawk wasp in the family Pompilidae, described by Banks in 1928. It belongs to the genus Hemipepsis, which includes large, predatory spider wasps that paralyze tarantulas to provision their nests. The species is part of a diverse group of tarantula hawks found in western North America. Very few observations of this species have been recorded.
Hemiptarsenus
Hemiptarsenus is a genus of small parasitoid wasps in the family Eulophidae. Species in this genus are primarily known as larval parasitoids of leaf-mining flies (Diptera: Agromyzidae), with some species also attacking Lepidopteran hosts. The genus has been studied extensively for its potential in biological control of agricultural pests, particularly leafminers affecting vegetable crops. Multiple species have been described from Asia, with new species continuing to be discovered in China.
Hemitelina
Hemitelina is a subtribe within the family Ichneumonidae, a large group of parasitoid wasps. Members of this subtribe are characterized by specific morphological features of the mesosoma and wing venation that distinguish them from related ichneumonid groups. The subtribe includes the genus Klutiana, which contains species such as Klutiana hemitelina described from Madagascar.
Heterarthrinae
Heterarthrinae is a subfamily of sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae. Its larvae are leaf miners, feeding internally within leaf tissue and creating characteristic mines. The subfamily is distributed primarily across Eurasia and North America, with additional species present in Africa and South America. It contains multiple genera organized into three recognized tribes: Caliroini, Fenusini, and Heterarthrini.
Heterarthrini
Heterarthrini is a tribe of sawflies within the family Tenthredinidae, subfamily Tenthredininae. Members are small, slender sawflies known for their leaf-mining larvae, which feed internally within leaf tissue of various host plants. The tribe includes several genera, with Caliroa being the most frequently encountered. Adults are generally inconspicuous and rarely observed compared to their more economically significant larval stages.
Heteroecus dasydactyli
Heteroecus dasydactyli is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. The species was originally described by Ashmead in 1896 under the name Andricus dasydactyli before being transferred to the genus Heteroecus. Like other members of Cynipidae, this species induces gall formation on host plants, though specific host associations require verification. The species has been documented in iNaturalist observations, indicating ongoing contemporary presence.
Heteroecus lyoni
Lyon's Gall Wasp
Heteroecus lyoni is a gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. Species in this genus are known to induce galls on oaks (Quercus), though specific details for H. lyoni are limited in available literature. The species was named in honor of someone with the surname Lyon, a common practice in taxonomic nomenclature. Like other cynipids, it likely exhibits a complex life cycle with alternating generations between sexual and parthenogenetic forms, though this has not been explicitly documented for this species.
Hexacladia hilaris
Hexacladia hilaris is a parasitoid wasp in the family Encyrtidae. It was described by Burks in 1972 and has been recorded in Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, the United States, and Brazil. The species is associated with stink bugs (Pentatomidae) and has been documented parasitizing Chinavia erythrocnemis in Brazil.
Himerta rubiginosa
Himerta rubiginosa is a species of ichneumonid wasp described by Cresson in 1879. It belongs to the family Ichneumonidae, a large group of parasitoid wasps. Available records indicate it has been documented in parts of Canada, specifically in Calgary and Edmonton. The genus Himerta is part of the diverse ichneumonid fauna, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in published sources.
Hockeria eriensis
Hockeria eriensis is a species of chalcid wasp in the family Chalcididae, first described by Wallace in 1942. It belongs to the subfamily Haltichellinae, a group characterized by reduced wing venation and often metallic coloration. The species is known from the Canadian prairies, with records from Alberta and Saskatchewan. As with other chalcidids, it is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host associations remain undocumented.
Hockeria micra
Hockeria micra is a species of parasitic wasp in the family Chalcididae, described by Halstead in 1990. It belongs to the subfamily Haltichellinae, a group of chalcidid wasps characterized by their enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. The species is known from scattered records across the United States, with documented occurrences in California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, and Missouri. Like other chalcidids, H. micra is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host associations remain unreported in available literature.
Hockeria rubra
Hockeria rubra is a species of chalcid wasp in the family Chalcididae, subfamily Haltichellinae. Described by Ashmead in 1894, this species belongs to a genus of parasitoid wasps. The specific epithet "rubra" (Latin for red) suggests reddish coloration, though detailed morphological descriptions are limited in available sources. Records indicate occurrence in Texas and Mexico.
Hockeria tenuicornis
Hockeria tenuicornis is a species of chalcid wasp in the family Chalcididae, described by Girault in 1918. It belongs to the subfamily Haltichellinae and tribe Haltichellini. The genus Hockeria is part of a diverse family of parasitoid wasps whose members are typically associated with other insects as hosts. The specific epithet "tenuicornis" refers to slender or thin antennae.
Hockeria unipunctatipennis
Hockeria unipunctatipennis is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Chalcididae, described by Girault in 1918. It belongs to the subfamily Haltichellinae and is part of a genus known for attacking lepidopteran hosts. The species has been recorded in eastern Canada, specifically Ontario and Quebec.
Holocynips badia
Holocynips badia is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae, originally described by Bassett in 1900. It belongs to a genus of cynipid wasps that induce galls on oak plants. Like other members of Cynipidae, it is likely associated with oak hosts (Quercus spp.), though specific host records for this species are not well documented in available sources. The species is known from limited observations, with 15 records on iNaturalist suggesting it is rarely encountered or underreported.
Holopyga
cuckoo wasps
Holopyga is a genus of cuckoo wasps in the family Chrysididae. Species in this genus exhibit a distinctive cleptoparasitic life history: females oviposit into aphids, and when crabronid wasps such as Pemphredon collect these aphids as prey for their nests, the Holopyga larva emerges first and consumes the food stores intended for the host larva. This indirect parasitism of wasp nests via aphid intermediates has been documented for Holopyga by Veenendaal (2012). The genus contains approximately 35 described species distributed across Europe and other regions.
Homotropus
Homotropus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, subfamily Diplazontinae. The genus is distributed across the Palearctic region, with confirmed records from Japan, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Twelve species are recognized in the Japanese fauna, including the recently described H. japonicum. The genus has undergone taxonomic revision, with several species transferred from the related genus Syrphoctonus and multiple synonymies established.
Hoplisoides punctifrons
sand wasp
Hoplisoides punctifrons is a species of solitary sand wasp in the family Crabronidae. It occurs in Central America and North America. Like other members of its genus, it is a ground-nesting wasp that provisions its brood with paralyzed prey.
Hoplitalysia
Hoplitalysia is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, first described by Ashmead in 1900. Members of this genus are part of the diverse ichneumonoid wasp fauna, which are predominantly parasitoids of other insects. The genus is represented by very few observations in biodiversity databases, suggesting it is either rare, understudied, or restricted in distribution. As with other braconid wasps, species in this genus likely play roles in regulating insect populations through parasitism.
Hoplitis albifrons
White-fronted Small-Mason
Hoplitis albifrons is a solitary mason bee in the family Megachilidae, tribe Osmiini. It is native to North America, with documented records from the northeastern United States including Vermont. As a member of the osmiine bees, it likely constructs nests in pre-existing cavities and uses mud or other materials to partition brood cells, though specific natural history details for this species remain poorly documented in available sources.
Hoplitis bunocephala
Hoplitis bunocephala is a solitary bee species in the family Megachilidae, described by Michener in 1947. The species is native to North America and belongs to the diverse genus Hoplitis, which includes numerous mason bee species. Like other members of Megachilidae, females carry pollen on scopae located on the underside of the abdomen rather than on the hind legs.
Hoplitis elongaticeps
Hoplitis elongaticeps is a solitary bee species in the family Megachilidae, first described by Michener in 1947. It belongs to the diverse genus Hoplitis, which comprises numerous mason bee species across the Northern Hemisphere. The species is known to occur in North America, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain limited in available sources.
Hoplitis howardi
Hoplitis howardi is a solitary bee species in the family Megachilidae, tribe Osmiini. First described by Cockerell in 1910, this species belongs to a large genus of mason bees that nest in pre-existing cavities. The genus Hoplitis is characterized by females that construct nest cells using collected materials such as leaf pieces, mud, or resin. H. howardi occurs in North America and Middle America, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented in published literature.
Hoplitis hypocrita
Mimic Small-Mason
Hoplitis hypocrita is a solitary bee species in the family Megachilidae, commonly known as the Mimic Small-Mason. It belongs to the tribe Osmiini, which includes many mason bee species that nest in pre-existing cavities. The species was originally described by Cockerell in 1906 as Osmia hypocrita before being transferred to the genus Hoplitis. It is native to North America.
Hoplitis spoliata
Dilated-horned Small-Mason
Hoplitis spoliata is a solitary bee species in the family Megachilidae, commonly known as the Dilated-horned Small-Mason. It is a member of the diverse osmiine bee tribe, which includes many species that nest in pre-existing cavities and use various materials to construct brood cells. The species was first described by Provancher in 1888 and is native to North America, with documented occurrences in the northeastern United States including Vermont.
Hoplitis truncata
Truncate Small-Mason
Hoplitis truncata is a solitary bee species in the family Megachilidae, commonly known as the Truncate Small-Mason. It is part of the diverse osmiine bee group, which includes many species that nest in pre-existing cavities and use various materials to construct their nests. The species has been recorded in North America and parts of Southern Asia, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Hoplocampa testudinea
apple sawfly, European apple sawfly
Hoplocampa testudinea is a sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae that is a significant pest of apple orchards. Native to Europe, it was accidentally introduced to North America in 1939 and has since become invasive across the northeastern United States and Canada. The larvae develop inside developing apple fruitlets, causing characteristic ribbon scars or fruit drop, while adults are active during apple bloom and oviposit into the calyx of flowers.
Hoplocryptus notatus notatus
Hoplocryptus notatus notatus is a subspecies of ichneumonid wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. This parasitoid wasp belongs to a genus within one of the largest families of Hymenoptera. The subspecies has been documented in western Canada, with records from Edmonton and Lethbridge. As with many ichneumonid wasps, its biology likely involves parasitism of other insects, though specific host relationships for this subspecies remain poorly documented.
Hormiinae
Hormiinae is a subfamily of Braconidae (Hymenoptera) comprising approximately 8 species in 4 genera and 2 tribes in Iran, with a cosmopolitan genus Hormius. Members include brachypterous and micropterous species with reduced wings. Some species are parasitoids of lepidopteran pupae.
Hybrizon flavocinctus
Hybrizon flavocinctus is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, subfamily Hybrizontinae. Members of this subfamily are specialized ant parasitoids, representing the third most diverse group of ant parasitoid wasps after Eucharitidae and Neoneurini. The species was described by Ashmead in 1894. As with other Hybrizontinae, it is presumed to parasitize ants, though specific host records and behavioral observations for H. flavocinctus remain undocumented in the available literature.
Hylaeus affinis
eastern masked bee
Hylaeus affinis, commonly known as the eastern masked bee, is a small solitary bee in the family Colletidae. It is native to North America and belongs to the genus Hylaeus, whose members are often called masked bees or yellow-faced bees due to their distinctive facial markings. Like other Hylaeus species, it is nearly hairless and resembles small wasps in appearance. The species nests in pre-existing cavities and transports pollen and nectar internally rather than on body hairs.
Hylaeus schwarzii
Schwarz's Masked Bee
Hylaeus schwarzii is a species of masked bee in the family Colletidae, native to North America. Like other members of the genus Hylaeus, it is a solitary, nearly hairless bee that superficially resembles small wasps. The species was described by Cockerell in 1896 and is one of approximately 50 Hylaeus species occurring in North America. Very little species-specific information is documented for H. schwarzii; most knowledge of its biology is inferred from the broader genus.
Hyptia floridana
Hyptia floridana is a species of ensign wasp in the family Evaniidae, first described by Ashmead in 1901. The species is found in Central America and North America. Ensign wasps are solitary parasitoids known for their distinctive laterally compressed abdomens that are often carried in a raised, flag-like position.
Ibaliidae
ibaliid wasps
The Ibaliidae are a small family of parasitoid wasps in the superfamily Cynipoidea, comprising three extant genera (Ibalia, Heteribalia, and Eileenella) with approximately 20 species worldwide. Unlike most cynipoids, which are phytophagous gall-formers, ibaliids are parasitoids of wood-boring sawfly larvae in the family Siricidae. Adults are notably large for cynipoids, reaching up to 30 mm in length, with a distinctive laterally compressed abdomen. The family is sister to the rest of Cynipoidea excluding the small subfamily Austrocynipidae.
Ichneumon
Ichneumon wasps
Ichneumon is a genus of parasitic wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest and most diverse groups of parasitoid insects. Members of this genus exhibit typical ichneumonid morphology with elongated bodies, long antennae, and often prominent ovipositors. The genus name derives from Greek "ichneumon" meaning "tracker," reflecting their host-finding behavior. Like other ichneumonids, they are parasitoids of other insects, with larvae developing on or within host organisms.
Ichneumon ambulatorius
Ichneumon ambulatorius is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Fabricius in 1775. As with most ichneumon wasps, it is a parasitoid, though specific host records for this species are not well documented in the available literature. The species has been recorded in western Canada, specifically from Alberta and Manitoba.
Ichneumon chasmodops
Ichneumon chasmodops is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Heinrich in 1961. The species belongs to the large genus Ichneumon, one of the most diverse genera within this wasp family. Very little is known about its biology, host associations, or ecological role. Records indicate it has been documented in Canada, specifically from Manitoba locations including Aweme and Dauphin Lake.
Ichneumon clasma
Ichneumon clasma is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Carlson in 1979. The genus Ichneumon is one of the largest genera within the family, containing numerous species that parasitize other insects. Like other ichneumon wasps, this species likely has a life history involving parasitism of host insects, though specific biological details remain poorly documented. The species is recognized in taxonomic databases but appears to be rarely encountered or reported in field observations.
Ichneumon devinctor
Ichneumon devinctor is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1825. It belongs to the large and diverse genus Ichneumon, which contains hundreds of species across North America and beyond. Like other ichneumon wasps, it is a parasitoid, with larvae developing on or within host insects. Specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in available literature.
Ichneumon feriens
Ichneumon lacrymans
Ichneumon lacrymans is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Provancher in 1875. It belongs to the highly diverse genus Ichneumon, one of the largest genera within this wasp family. The species is known from very few observations, with only two records documented on iNaturalist. Like other ichneumon wasps, it is presumed to be parasitoid, though specific host relationships and biological details remain undocumented in available sources.
Ichneumon laetus
Ichneumon laetus is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Brullé in 1846. The species has been recorded from several locations in Canada including Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Like other members of the genus Ichneumon, this species is presumed to be a parasitoid wasp, though specific host relationships remain undocumented. The genus Ichneumon is one of the largest genera within Ichneumonidae, containing numerous species with varied ecological associations.
Ichneumon subdolus
Ichneumon subdolus is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Cresson in 1867. Like other members of the genus Ichneumon, it is a parasitoid wasp. The species has been recorded from limited localities in North America, including Calgary, Canada and Vermont, USA. Specific details about its biology, hosts, and appearance remain poorly documented in available literature.
Ichneumonini
Ichneumonini is a large and diverse tribe of ichneumon wasps within the family Ichneumonidae, containing more than 350 genera and thousands of described species. Members are parasitoid wasps, with genera such as *Anisobas* documented across the Holarctic and Indo-Malaysian regions. The tribe is particularly well-represented in the Nearctic region, with multiple species known from western North America.
Ichneumonoidea
Ichneumonid and Braconid Wasps
Ichneumonoidea is a superfamily of Hymenoptera containing two extant families: Ichneumonidae and Braconidae, the two largest families within the order. The group encompasses an estimated 100,000 species, the vast majority undescribed. Members are solitary parasitoid wasps whose larvae develop on or inside host insects, eventually killing them. The superfamily is defined morphologically by fusion of the costal and radial veins of the fore wing and typically more than 11 antennal segments.
Ichneutes
Ichneutes is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, established by Christian Gottfried Daniel Nees von Esenbeck in 1814. The genus belongs to the large and diverse ichneumonoid wasp superfamily, which contains thousands of species that parasitize other insects. Very few observations of Ichneutes have been recorded, with only 4 documented on iNaturalist. The genus has been reported from parts of northern Europe including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Isdromas lycaenae
Isdromas lycaenae is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. It was described by Howard in 1889. The species belongs to the genus Isdromas, which is characterized by distinctive morphological features including reduced wing venation. Like other members of its family, it is likely a parasitoid, though specific host records for this species are not well documented in available literature.
Iseropus coelebs
Iseropus coelebs is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Walsh in 1873. As a member of the genus Iseropus, it belongs to a group of parasitoid wasps whose larvae develop inside other insects. The species is native to North America and exhibits the slender body form and elongated antennae characteristic of ichneumonids.