Hymenoptera
Guides
Priocnemis germana
Priocnemis germana is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, first described by Cresson in 1867. Like other members of the genus Priocnemis, this species is a solitary wasp that hunts spiders to provision nests for its larval offspring. The species belongs to a genus characterized by serrated hind tibiae, a diagnostic feature distinguishing them from other black spider wasps. Very few specific observations or detailed biological studies have been published for this particular species.
Priocnemis hestia
Priocnemis hestia is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, described by Banks in 1915. Like other members of the genus Priocnemis, it is presumed to be a solitary parasitoid of spiders. The species is part of a diverse genus of spider wasps found primarily in North America.
Priocnemis minuscula
Priocnemis minuscula is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae. The species was described by Banks in 1917. As a member of the genus Priocnemis, it belongs to a group of solitary wasps that paralyze spiders to provision nests for their larvae. Specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in available literature.
Priocnemis oregona
Priocnemis oregona is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, first described by Banks in 1933. As a member of the genus Priocnemis, it belongs to a group of solitary wasps that hunt spiders to provision nests for their larvae. The species epithet suggests an association with Oregon or the Pacific Northwest region. Specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in available sources.
Priocnessus nebulosus
Priocnessus nebulosus is a spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, first described by Dahlbom in 1843. The genus Priocnessus belongs to the spider wasp family, which comprises solitary wasps that hunt spiders to provision nests for their larvae. Very few specific details are documented for this particular species.
Prionyx
Prionyx is a genus of solitary thread-waisted wasps in the family Sphecidae, distributed across the Americas from southern Canada to Argentina. All species are specialist predators of grasshoppers (Acrididae), which they paralyze with venom and provision as food for their larvae in underground burrows. The genus is characterized by a globose abdomen, spiny legs with saw-like tarsal claws, and distinctive nesting behaviors. Females dig burrows after securing prey, transport paralyzed grasshoppers to single-celled nests, and seal the entrance upon completion. Some species exhibit facultative kleptoparasitism when nesting aggregations overlap with other wasp species.
Prionyx parkeri
Parker's Thread-waisted Wasp
Prionyx parkeri is a species of thread-waisted wasp in the family Sphecidae. It is one of seven Prionyx species found in the United States. The species is distinguished from close relatives by two pairs of long palps that are part of its mouthparts. Like other members of the genus, it is a solitary parasitoid wasp that hunts grasshoppers as prey for its larvae.
Priophorus brullei
Priophorus brullei is a species of sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae. The species was originally described by Dahlbom in 1835 under the name Priophorus brullei, but is currently classified under the genus Cladius as Cladius brullei, making Priophorus brullei a synonym. It belongs to the order Hymenoptera, which includes ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies.
Pristaulacus foxleei
Pristaulacus foxleei is a species of aulacid wasp in the family Aulacidae, described by Townes in 1950. It is native to North America, with records from western Canada including British Columbia. Like other members of its genus, it is a parasitoid wasp associated with wood-boring beetles. The species is one of approximately 32 aulacid species documented in North America.
Pristaulacus melleus
Pristaulacus melleus is a species of aulacid wasp in the family Aulacidae. It is found in North America. Aulacid wasps are parasitoids of wood-boring beetle larvae, particularly longhorned beetles (Cerambycidae) and jewel beetles (Buprestidae), as well as wood wasp larvae (Xiphydriidae). Females locate hosts by probing bark crevices with their antennae and deposit eggs using a downcurved ovipositor.
Pristaulacus montanus
Pristaulacus montanus is a species of aulacid wasp in the family Aulacidae. Aulacid wasps are parasitoids of wood-boring beetle larvae, particularly longhorned beetles (Cerambycidae) and jewel beetles (Buprestidae). The species occurs in North America, with records from Canada including British Columbia. Aulacids are often mistaken for ichneumon wasps due to their superficial resemblance, but can be distinguished by the high attachment of the abdomen on the thorax and a downcurved ovipositor tip.
Pristaulacus niger
Pristaulacus niger is a species of aulacid wasp found in North America. Aulacid wasps are parasitoids of wood-boring beetle larvae, particularly longhorned beetles (Cerambycidae) and jewel beetles (Buprestidae). They are often overlooked due to their superficial resemblance to ichneumon wasps. The genus Pristaulacus includes some of the larger species in the family Aulacidae.
Pristiphora
Pristiphora is a genus of sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae. Species within this genus are known for their larval feeding on leaves of various plants, with some species causing significant economic damage to trees and shrubs. The genus includes notable pests such as the larch sawfly (Pristiphora erichsonii), which defoliates tamarack and other larch species. Adults are small, dark-colored wasp-like insects with two pairs of wings.
Pristiphora appendiculata
Small Gooseberry Sawyer
Pristiphora appendiculata is a sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae, commonly known as the Small Gooseberry Sawyer. The species is native to Europe and has been introduced to North America, where it is now established across much of Canada and the northern United States. As a member of the subfamily Nematinae, it belongs to a group of sawflies often associated with feeding on woody plants in the order Rosales. The specific epithet 'appendiculata' refers to small appendages, likely describing a morphological feature of the species.
Pristiphora banksi
Pristiphora banksi is a species of sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae, subfamily Nematinae. As a member of the genus Pristiphora, it belongs to a diverse group of sawflies commonly associated with various tree and shrub hosts. The species is documented in entomological records but specific biological details remain limited in available literature. Sawflies in this genus are typically herbivorous, with larvae feeding on leaves of their host plants.
Pristiphora bivittata
Pristiphora bivittata is a sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae, order Hymenoptera. The species was described by Norton in 1861. It is known from multiple Canadian provinces including British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Records indicate it has been observed at least six times on iNaturalist. Beyond basic taxonomic and distribution data, detailed biological information for this species remains limited in available sources.
Pristiphora mollis
Gentle Bilberry Sawyer
Pristiphora mollis is a Holarctic sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae, commonly known as the Gentle Bilberry Sawyer. The species occurs across northern regions of both North America and Eurasia, with documented records in Canada and the United Kingdom. Like other members of the genus Pristiphora, it is associated with woody plants, though specific host relationships require further documentation.
Pristiphora rufipes
columbine sawfly
Pristiphora rufipes, commonly known as the columbine sawfly, is a non-native sawfly species native to central Europe that was first discovered in North America in Canada in 1963. It has since spread across the eastern seaboard to the Rocky Mountains, becoming a significant pest of columbine plants (Aquilegia spp.). Adult females use a saw-like ovipositor to insert eggs into leaf tissue, and the caterpillar-like larvae feed on columbine foliage, capable of completely defoliating plants. The species exhibits multiple generations per year in warmer regions, with two generations common in the mid-Atlantic and three or more in England.
Pristiphora serrula
Pristiphora serrula is a species of sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae, subfamily Nematinae. As a member of the genus Pristiphora, it belongs to a group of sawflies commonly associated with feeding on various woody plants. The genus Pristiphora includes numerous species that are significant defoliators of trees and shrubs, with larvae typically feeding externally on leaves. Specific biological details for P. serrula are limited in the available literature.
Pristiphora siskiyouensis
Pristiphora siskiyouensis is a sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae, first described by Marlatt in 1896. The species is part of a genus containing numerous sawfly species, many of which are associated with coniferous hosts. Like other Pristiphora species, it likely exhibits the typical sawfly life cycle with larvae feeding on plant foliage. The specific epithet "siskiyouensis" suggests a connection to the Siskiyou Mountains region of the Pacific Northwest.
Prochiloneurus
Prochiloneurus is a genus of minute parasitoid wasps in the family Encyrtidae, established by Silvestri in 1915. Species in this genus are primarily known as hyperparasitoids, attacking other parasitoids that develop within mealybugs (Pseudococcidae). The genus has been documented from multiple continents including Africa, Asia, and the Americas, with recent new country records from China. Some species have been studied for their role in biological control systems, particularly in cassava mealybug management where they act as secondary parasitoids of primary parasitoids like Anagyrus lopezi.
Proctotrupes
Proctotrupes is a genus of small parasitoid wasps in the family Proctotrupidae. Members of this genus are known to parasitize beetle larvae, particularly those of weevils (Curculionidae). The genus occurs primarily in the Holarctic region, with records from northern Europe.
Proctotrupes terminalis
Proctotrupes terminalis is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Proctotrupidae, described by Ashmead in 1893. Members of this family are typically small, dark-colored wasps that parasitize beetle larvae, particularly those of ground beetles (Carabidae) and rove beetles (Staphylinidae). The genus Proctotrupes is among the more speciose genera within Proctotrupidae, though species-level taxonomy remains challenging due to morphological conservatism.
Profenusa alumna
red oak leaf-mining sawfly
Profenusa alumna is a leaf-mining sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae. It is univoltine, completing one generation per year. Larvae feed as leaf miners within red oak leaves, creating blotch mines. The species is closely associated with red oak (Quercus rubra) in forested habitats. Pupation occurs in soil.
Profenusa canadensis
Hawthorn Leaf-miner Sawfly
A sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae, commonly known as the Hawthorn Leaf-miner Sawfly. The species is associated with hawthorn (Crataegus) as a host plant, with larvae creating blotch mines in leaves. It occurs in North America, with observations spanning multiple regions.
Prolatus
Prolatus is a genus of sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae. The genus is part of the diverse Hymenoptera order, which includes wasps, bees, and ants. Information on species-level diversity and biology within Prolatus remains limited in available sources.
Prolatus artus
Prolatus artus is a species of sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae, described by Smith in 1967. As a member of the Hymenoptera, it lacks the narrow waist characteristic of wasps, bees, and ants. Sawflies in this family are herbivorous and their larvae typically feed on plant foliage. The species is recognized as a valid taxon in current databases, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Prosevania
Prosevania is a genus of ensign wasps in the family Evaniidae, first described by Kieffer in 1911. Members of this genus are parasitoid wasps, with at least one species (P. punctata) having documented biology and life history. The genus belongs to the superfamily Evanioidea, characterized by their distinctive metasomal attachment. Prosevania species are part of a group of wasps that develop as parasitoids in the oothecae of cockroaches.
Protandrena abdominalis
Protandrena abdominalis is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, first described by Cresson in 1878 under the genus Calliopsis. It is part of the genus Protandrena, which comprises small to medium-sized bees that nest in the ground. As with other members of the Panurginae subfamily, this species is a solitary bee with no known social behavior. The species name refers to some characteristic of the abdomen, though the specific trait is not detailed in available sources.
Protichneumon grandis
Protichneumon grandis is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Brulle in 1846. The genus Protichneumon belongs to the diverse parasitoid wasp family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families of insects. Species in this genus are parasitoids, with females laying eggs in or on host insects using their prominent ovipositors. P. grandis has been recorded from several localities across North America including western Canada and the northeastern United States.
Protobalandricus spectabilis
Tapered Stem Gall Wasp
Protobalandricus spectabilis is a gall wasp species in the family Cynipidae, originally described as Andricus spectabilis by Kinsey in 1922 and later transferred to the genus Protobalandricus by Nicholls, Stone & Melika in 2018. It is commonly known as the Tapered Stem Gall Wasp. The species is part of the diverse Cynipini tribe, which includes numerous gall-inducing wasps associated with oaks and related plants. As a cynipid wasp, it induces the formation of plant galls during its life cycle, though specific gall morphology and host associations for this species require further documentation.
Protophotopsis
Protophotopsis is a genus of velvet ants (family Mutillidae) described by Schuster in 1947. The genus belongs to the diverse group of solitary wasps characterized by aposematic coloration and wingless females. As a member of Mutillidae, males are winged while females are wingless and often exhibit defensive behaviors including a powerful sting. The genus appears to be rarely encountered, with limited observational records available.
Pschornia striata
Pschornia striata is a species of parasitic wasp in the family Proctotrupidae, described by Townes in 1981. Members of this family are typically small, rarely encountered parasitoids whose biology remains poorly documented. The genus Pschornia was established to accommodate species with distinctive morphological features separating them from related proctotrupid genera.
Pseudanidorus bicolor
Pseudanidorus bicolor is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Encyrtidae. The genus Pseudanidorus belongs to the diverse chalcidoid wasp family Encyrtidae, which contains numerous species used in biological control programs. This species is represented in the University of California, Riverside (UCR) Encyrtidae collection, one of the largest and most important collections of this family worldwide.
Pseudisobrachium
flat wasps
Pseudisobrachium is a genus of chrysidoid wasps in the family Bethylidae, commonly known as flat wasps. The genus was erected by Kieffer in 1904 and has undergone substantial taxonomic expansion, particularly from the Brazilian Amazon region where 33 new species were described in a 2024 monograph. The genus now contains approximately 40+ species, with most diversity concentrated in Neotropical regions.
Pseudisobrachium carbonarium
Pseudisobrachium carbonarium is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Bethylidae, first described by William Harris Ashmead in 1893. Members of this genus are small, dark-colored wasps that parasitize beetle larvae, particularly those of wood-boring and stored-product beetles. The species is part of a taxonomically complex group where species boundaries are often difficult to establish due to morphological similarity.
Pseudodineurini
Pseudodineurini is a tribe of sawflies within the family Tenthredinidae. Members are small, leaf-mining sawflies whose larvae create distinctive mines in leaves of various plants. The tribe includes the genus Pseudodineura, which contains multiple species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. Adults are generally inconspicuous and seldom encountered compared to their more frequently observed larval mines.
Pseudomalus
cuckoo wasps, jewel wasps
Pseudomalus is a genus of cuckoo wasps (family Chrysididae), commonly known as jewel wasps for their brilliant metallic coloration. Species in this genus are kleptoparasites that exploit the nests of solitary wasps and bees. A distinctive behavioral trait involves females ovipositing into aphids, which are then captured by crabronid wasps and carried to their nests—indirectly delivering the cuckoo wasp larva to its eventual host. The genus includes both Palearctic natives and at least one introduced species (P. auratus) now established in North America.
Pseudomethoca bequaerti
Pseudomethoca bequaerti is a species of velvet ant in the family Mutillidae. Velvet ants are actually solitary wasps, with females being wingless and often brightly colored with aposematic coloration. The genus Pseudomethoca is part of a diverse group of mutillids found in North America.
Pseudomethoca brazoria
A species of velvet ant in the family Mutillidae, characterized by the wingless females typical of this family. The species name refers to Brazoria County, Texas, suggesting a geographic association with the Gulf Coastal Plain region. As with other mutillids, females are solitary and possess a potent sting, while males are winged and less frequently encountered.
Pseudomethoca flammigera
Pseudomethoca flammigera is a species of velvet ant in the family Mutillidae (order Hymenoptera). The genus Pseudomethoca contains species that are frequently suggested as models for mimicry complexes involving other insects, particularly checkered beetles in the family Cleridae. As with other mutillids, females are wingless and males are winged. The species is known from very limited observation records.
Pseudomethoca meritoria
Pseudomethoca meritoria is a species of velvet ant in the family Mutillidae (order Hymenoptera). The genus Pseudomethoca is part of a diverse group of solitary wasps in which females are wingless and exhibit aposematic coloration. Like other mutillids, this species likely exhibits the characteristic traits of the family: females are wingless and ant-like in appearance, while males possess wings. The genus name Pseudomethoca indicates a close relationship to the genus Methoca, from which it may be distinguished by subtle morphological differences.
Pseudomethoca oceola
Pseudomethoca oceola is a species of velvet ant in the family Mutillidae, order Hymenoptera. Like other mutillids, females are wingless and possess a potent sting, while males are winged. The genus Pseudomethoca contains species that are often proposed as models for mimicry by checkered beetles (Cleridae), particularly in the genus Enoclerus.
Pseudomethoca oculata
Pseudomethoca oculata is a species of velvet ant in the family Mutillidae (order Hymenoptera). Velvet ants are actually flightless female wasps, not true ants. The genus Pseudomethoca includes species that serve as potential models for Müllerian or Batesian mimicry complexes involving other insects, particularly beetles in the family Cleridae. Observations of this species are documented in iNaturalist, though detailed biological information appears limited in published sources.
Pseudomethoca paludata
Pseudomethoca paludata is a species of velvet ant in the family Mutillidae. Velvet ants are actually flightless female wasps, not true ants. The genus Pseudomethoca contains species that are part of the diverse North American mutillid fauna. Like other mutillids, females are wingless and possess a potent sting, while males are winged and lack a functional sting.
Pseudomethoca quadrinotata
Pseudomethoca quadrinotata is a species of velvet ant in the family Mutillidae, described by Knull in 1938. The genus Pseudomethoca is part of the diverse velvet ant fauna of North America, characterized by aposematic coloration and the wingless condition of females. This species is among the relatively small number of Pseudomethoca species documented in the region.
Pseudomethoca sanbornii
Pseudomethoca sanbornii is a species of velvet ant in the family Mutillidae, a group of solitary wasps known for their aposematic coloration and powerful sting. Females are wingless and ant-like in appearance, while males possess wings. The species occurs across much of the eastern and central United States. Like other mutillids, females are reportedly capable of delivering a painful sting, though they are not aggressive and sting only in defense.
Pseudomethoca simillima
Pseudomethoca simillima is a species of velvet ant in the family Mutillidae, a group of solitary wasps in which females are wingless and often brightly colored with aposematic coloration. The species has been proposed as a potential model for Müllerian or Batesian mimicry by the checkered beetle Enoclerus ichneumoneus (family Cleridae), which shares a similar orange-and-black banded color pattern. Females are reportedly fast-moving and difficult to photograph, exhibiting urgent, zigzagging locomotion on sandy substrates. The species appears to be relatively uncommon in at least parts of its range compared to its suggested mimic.
Pseudomyrmex apache
Apache Twig Ant
Pseudomyrmex apache is a species of twig ant in the subfamily Pseudomyrmecinae. It is native to the southwestern United States and Mexico, with unconfirmed reports from Florida. The species is characterized by its golden yellow coloration and wasp-like body form typical of the genus. Like other Pseudomyrmex species, it has notably large compound eyes relative to body size.
Pseudopanurgus atricornis
Pseudopanurgus atricornis is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae. It was first described by Cresson in 1878. The species is distributed across Central America and North America. As a member of the genus Pseudopanurgus, it belongs to a group of small to medium-sized bees that nest in the ground.