Hymenoptera
Guides
Scleroderminae
Scleroderminae is a subfamily of small parasitoid wasps within the family Bethylidae. Members of this subfamily are characterized by their compact body form and reduced wing venation compared to other bethylids. They are primarily known as parasitoids of beetle larvae, particularly those in wood-boring and stem-boring families. The subfamily includes genera such as Sclerodermus, which has been studied for its potential in biological control.
Sclerodermus carolinensis
Sclerodermus carolinensis is a small parasitoid wasp in the family Bethylidae, native to the southeastern United States. Adults are typically 1.5–6 mm in length and often wingless, making them easily mistaken for ants. The species parasitizes wood-boring beetles and occasionally co-infests homes where such beetles are present. Females are long-lived (up to seven months) and greatly outnumber males, which are short-lived (about one week).
Sclerogibba rossi
Sclerogibba rossi is a species of parasitic wasp in the family Sclerogibbidae, a small family of rare wasps. The species was described by Olmi in 2005 and is known from scattered records across Madagascar, India, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Japan. Sclerogibbid wasps are ectoparasitoids of Embioptera (webspinners), with females exhibiting highly modified morphology adapted for this specialized lifestyle.
Scolia bicincta
Double-banded Scoliid Wasp, double-banded scoliid
Scolia bicincta is a large, conspicuous scoliid wasp native to eastern and central North America. Adults are active from late summer through autumn, where they visit flowers for nectar. Females are parasitoids of scarab beetle grubs, digging underground to locate hosts, paralyzing them, and laying single eggs on the immobilized prey. The species is considered beneficial for biological control of lawn and garden pests known as "white grubs."
Scolobates auriculatus
Scolobates auriculatus is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Fabricius in 1804. The species is recorded from Belgium and Canada (Alberta), suggesting a Holarctic distribution. Like other ichneumonids, it is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host associations remain undocumented. The genus Scolobates contains relatively few described species, and S. auriculatus appears to be infrequently encountered based on available collection records.
Scolobatini
Scolobatini is a tribe of ichneumon wasps within the family Ichneumonidae. These wasps are parasitoids, though specific host associations remain poorly documented for the tribe as a whole. The tribe is characterized by morphological features that distinguish it from related groups within the subfamily Ctenopelmatinae, to which it belongs. Knowledge of Scolobatini is limited, with relatively few observations and studies published.
Scutellista caerulea
Scutellista caerulea is a small parasitoid wasp in the family Pteromalidae, widely used as a biological control agent against soft scale insects (Coccoidea). The species is an ectoparasitoid, with larvae feeding externally on host eggs concealed beneath the adult scale insect's body. Laboratory studies have established optimal rearing conditions at 30–33°C with 12–14 hours of daylight and supplementary carbohydrate nutrition for adults. The species demonstrates particular effectiveness in tropical environments where other parasitoids may fail.
Sericopompilus angustatus
Sericopompilus angustatus is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, first described by Cresson in 1865. Members of the genus Sericopompilus are characterized by their slender body form and silvery pubescence. As with other pompilid wasps, this species is presumed to be a solitary hunter that provisions nests with paralyzed spiders for its larvae. The specific epithet "angustatus" refers to the narrow or slender body shape typical of this species.
Sesioplex depressus
Sesioplex depressus is a species of ichneumonid wasp in the genus Sesioplex. The species was described by Viereck in 1912 and is currently accepted as valid. Very little specific biological information is available for this particular species. The genus Sesioplex belongs to the large family Ichneumonidae, which comprises parasitoid wasps that primarily attack larval stages of various insects, particularly Lepidoptera.
Setanta
Setanta is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, established by Cameron in 1901. The genus belongs to the diverse superfamily Ichneumonoidea, which contains thousands of species of parasitoid wasps. Members of this genus are part of the rich hymenopteran fauna of North America, with documented records from the northeastern United States.
Setanta compta marginata
Setanta compta marginata is a subspecies of ichneumonid wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Provancher in 1882. It belongs to a genus of parasitoid wasps whose members are known to attack various insect hosts. As a subspecies, it represents a geographically or morphologically distinct population within the broader species Setanta compta. Very little specific information has been published about this particular subspecies in accessible literature.
Setanta parsimonica
Setanta parsimonica is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Cameron in 1885. The genus Setanta is a small group within this large family of parasitoid wasps. Like other ichneumonids, it is presumed to be a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host relationships remain undocumented. The species has been recorded in limited observations, suggesting it may be uncommon or undercollected.
Shawiana
Shawiana is a genus of braconid wasps in the family Braconidae, established by van Achterberg in 1983. The genus belongs to the order Hymenoptera and is part of the diverse parasitoid wasp family Braconidae. No detailed biological information is available for this genus.
Sierolomorpha canadensis
Sierolomorpha canadensis is a species of sierolomorphid wasp described by Provancher in 1888. It belongs to the family Sierolomorphidae, a small and poorly known group of parasitoid wasps. The species is widely distributed across eastern North America. Very little is known about its biology or host associations.
Sierolomorpha nigrescens
Sierolomorpha nigrescens is a species of parasitic wasp in the family Sierolomorphidae, described by Evans in 1961. It belongs to a small family of Hymenoptera with limited ecological documentation. The species has been recorded across western North America from Canada to the southwestern United States.
Signiphora merceti
Signiphora merceti is a species of chalcid wasp in the family Signiphoridae, a group of small parasitoid wasps. The species was described by Malenotti in 1917. Like other signiphorids, it is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host records for this species are not well documented. The genus Signiphora contains species associated with scale insects and other homopteran hosts.
Simanthedon linsleyi
Simanthedon linsleyi is a species of long-horned bee in the family Apidae, tribe Eucerini. It was described by Zavortink in 1975. The genus Simanthedon is a small group within the Eucerini, commonly known as long-horned bees due to the elongated antennae of males. This species occurs in North America and Middle America.
Simophion excarinatus
Simophion excarinatus is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Cushman in 1947. The genus Simophion is a relatively small group within the diverse ichneumonid fauna. This species is part of the parasitoid wasp fauna that plays important roles in regulating insect populations. Available records indicate it has been documented in field observations, though detailed biological studies remain limited.
Solenopsis pergandei
Pergande's Thief Ant
Solenopsis pergandei is a small thief ant species in the genus Solenopsis, described by Forel in 1901. It is native to North America and belongs to a genus that includes both native species and the highly invasive red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta). Unlike its notorious congener, S. pergandei is not considered a significant pest species. The species is part of a diverse group of Solenopsis ants commonly known as thief ants due to their habit of nesting near other ant colonies and stealing their brood.
Solenopsis picta
Northern Twig-nesting Thief Ant
Solenopsis picta is a species of thief ant in the genus Solenopsis, described by Emery in 1895. It is commonly known as the Northern Twig-nesting Thief Ant. The species belongs to a genus that includes other well-known ants such as the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta), though S. picta is distinct in its ecology and behavior. Information specific to this species is limited in the provided sources.
Spalangia cameroni
Spalangia cameroni is a solitary parasitoid wasp in the family Pteromalidae that attacks the pupal stage of filth flies, particularly house flies (Musca domestica). It has been extensively studied for its biological control potential in livestock and poultry operations. The species exhibits complex host-finding behaviors, including the ability to distinguish host ages through antennal contact, and demonstrates sex ratio manipulation in response to host size. It has a lifecycle of approximately 21–28 days under favorable conditions.
Sphacophilus apios
Sphacophilus apios is a species of sawfly in the family Argidae, a group commonly known as argid sawflies. The species name 'apios' suggests an association with Apios americana (groundnut), a leguminous vine native to eastern North America. Argid sawflies are herbivorous as larvae, with most species feeding on foliage of woody or herbaceous plants. Adults are typically short-lived and do not feed extensively.
Sphaeropthalma amphion
Sphaeropthalma amphion is a species of velvet ant in the family Mutillidae, first described by Fox in 1899. Like other members of this genus, it is a parasitoid wasp with wingless females and winged males. The species is part of a diverse group of solitary wasps known for their aposematic coloration and painful stings. Very little specific information is available for this particular species.
Sphaeropthalma arota
velvet ant
Sphaeropthalma arota is a velvet ant (family Mutillidae) native to western North America. Phylogeographic studies indicate this name represents a cryptic species complex comprising four genetically distinct lineages that cannot be distinguished by current morphological methods. The species is adapted to arid environments, with diversification events linked to late Neogene mountain building and aridification in western North America. Like other mutillids, females are wingless and wasp-like in appearance, while males possess wings.
Sphaeropthalma auripilis
Sphaeropthalma auripilis is a species of velvet ant in the family Mutillidae, first described by Blake in 1871. Velvet ants are solitary wasps in which females are wingless and often brightly colored with aposematic coloration warning of their painful sting. The genus Sphaeropthalma is one of the larger genera within Mutillidae in North America. This species is part of a diverse group of parasitoid wasps that primarily attack other solitary wasps and bees.
Sphaeropthalma blakeii
Sphaeropthalma blakeii is a species of velvet ant in the family Mutillidae, first described by Fox in 1893. The genus Sphaeropthalma is among the most diverse mutillid genera in North America. Like all velvet ants, females are wingless and wasp-like in appearance, while males possess wings. The species is poorly documented in the literature, with limited information available beyond taxonomic records.
Sphaeropthalma boweri
Sphaeropthalma boweri is a species of velvet ant in the family Mutillidae. Like other members of this genus, it is likely a parasitoid of other wasps, particularly ground-nesting species. The genus Sphaeropthalma is part of a diverse group of velvet ants in North America, with multiple species documented in museum collections. Specific biological details for S. boweri remain poorly documented in published literature.
Sphaeropthalma difficilis
Sphaeropthalma difficilis is a species of velvet ant (family Mutillidae), a group of solitary wasps known for their aposematic coloration and powerful stings. Females are wingless and resemble ants, while males possess wings. The species was described by Baker in 1905. Like other mutillids, it is presumed to be a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host records for this species are not well documented.
Sphaeropthalma facilis
Sphaeropthalma facilis is a species of velvet ant in the family Mutillidae, first described by Cameron in 1896. Like other members of the genus Sphaeropthalma, this species is likely a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host records for this particular species are not well documented. The genus Sphaeropthalma contains multiple species distributed across North America.
Sphaeropthalma imperialis
Sphaeropthalma imperialis is a species of velvet ant (family Mutillidae), a group of solitary wasps known for their aposematic coloration and potent sting. Females are wingless and resemble large, hairy ants, while males possess wings. The species was described by Blake in 1871. Like other mutillids, this species exhibits sexual dimorphism and is parasitoid in its life history. The genus Sphaeropthalma is diverse and primarily distributed in the Americas.
Sphaeropthalma luiseno
Sphaeropthalma luiseno is a species of velvet ant in the family Mutillidae. Like other members of this genus, it is a wingless female wasp that parasitizes the nests of other wasps. The species is part of a diverse genus of velvet ants found primarily in western North America.
Sphaeropthalma megagnathos
Sphaeropthalma megagnathos is a species of velvet ant in the family Mutillidae, described by Schuster in 1958. Like other members of its genus, it is a wingless female wasp (males have wings) with a robust, ant-like appearance. The species is known from the southwestern United States, specifically Arizona, California, and Nevada. As with all velvet ants, females possess a powerful sting and are solitary parasitoids.
Sphaeropthalma mendica
velvet ant
Sphaeropthalma mendica is a desert-adapted velvet ant (family Mutillidae) native to western North America. It belongs to the S. unicolor species-complex, which includes both Mediterranean-adapted and desert-adapted species. Phylogeographic studies indicate that S. mendica diverged from its sister species S. unicolor during the early Pleistocene, with subsequent population structuring among desert populations. Like all velvet ants, females are wingless and possess a potent sting, while males are winged.
Sphaeropthalma pensylvanica pensylvanica
velvet ant
A velvet ant subspecies in the family Mutillidae, notable for being the first record of phoretic copulation in the subfamily Sphaeropthalminae. Males transport females by flight and/or foot from the initial contact site before mating occurs. The species is a solitary parasitoid with unusual sex allocation patterns and has been reared from cocoons of the organ pipe mud dauber (Trypoxylon politum).
Sphaeropthalma pinalea
velvet ant
Sphaeropthalma pinalea is a species of velvet ant in the family Mutillidae, described by Schuster in 1958. Like other members of this genus, the females are wingless and ant-like in appearance, while males possess wings. The species is part of a diverse North American velvet ant fauna, with the genus Sphaeropthalma containing numerous species primarily distributed in western and southwestern United States.
Sphaeropthalma triangularis
Sphaeropthalma triangularis is a species of velvet ant in the family Mutillidae. Velvet ants are solitary wasps, with females being wingless and often ant-like in appearance. The species was described by Blake in 1871. Like other members of the genus Sphaeropthalma, this species is likely a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host records for S. triangularis remain undocumented. The genus Sphaeropthalma is known to include species that parasitize mud dauber wasps and other Hymenoptera.
Sphaeropthalma unicolor
Sphaeropthalma unicolor is a velvet ant species (family Mutillidae) native to Mediterranean regions of the Nearctic. It belongs to a species-complex that includes desert-adapted relatives, with phylogenetic studies indicating diversification driven by Pleistocene climatic fluctuations. The species shows little population-level genetic structuring across its range.
Sphaeroteras pulchripennis
Sphaeroteras pulchripennis is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. The species name 'pulchripennis' (Latin: 'beautiful wing') refers to its distinctive wing coloration. As with other members of Cynipidae, this species induces gall formation on host plants, though specific host associations remain incompletely documented. It is a relatively rarely observed species with limited published biological data.
Sphecodes davisii
Davis's Cuckoo Sweat Bee
Sphecodes davisii is a cleptoparasitic sweat bee in the family Halictidae. As a member of the genus Sphecodes, it exhibits the cuckoo bee lifestyle: females enter nests of host sweat bees to lay eggs in brood cells, where their larvae consume the host's provisions and developing young. The species is native to North America, with documented records from Vermont and broader North American distribution. Like other Sphecodes, it likely targets ground-nesting Halictidae as hosts.
Sphecodes heraclei
Cyclops Blood Bee
Sphecodes heraclei is a species of cleptoparasitic sweat bee in the family Halictidae, commonly known as the Cyclops Blood Bee. Like other members of the genus Sphecodes, females lay their eggs in the nests of other solitary bees, particularly sweat bees in the subfamily Halictinae. The larvae consume the host's food stores and parasitize the host larvae. The species is native to North America and Central America, with records from both regions.
Sphecodes heraclei heraclei
Northern Cyclops Blood Bee
Sphecodes heraclei heraclei is a subspecies of blood bee in the family Halictidae. As a member of the genus Sphecodes, it is a cleptoparasite (cuckoo bee) that exploits the nests of other solitary bees, particularly sweat bees in the family Halictidae. The subspecies was described by Robertson in 1897. Like other Sphecodes, females enter host nests to lay eggs in brood cells, with their larvae consuming the host's pollen provisions and parasitizing the host larvae.
Sphecodes heraclei ignitus
Fiery Cyclops Blood Bee
Sphecodes heraclei ignitus is a subspecies of blood bee within the family Halictidae. Like other members of the genus Sphecodes, this bee is a cleptoparasite (cuckoo bee) that exploits the nests of other solitary bees. The subspecific epithet 'ignitus' (meaning 'fiery') and its common name suggest distinctive coloration. The species was described by Cockerell in 1922. As a Sphecodes, it exhibits the characteristic parasitic lifestyle of the genus, targeting sweat bees and other ground-nesting halictids.
Sphecodes mandibularis
Sphecodes mandibularis is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Cresson in 1872. The genus Sphecodes comprises cleptoparasitic bees that typically invade nests of other halictid bees. This species has been recorded in North America, with confirmed observations in Vermont, United States. Like other members of its genus, it likely exhibits kleptoparasitic behavior, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Sphecodosoma dicksoni
Dickson's Nama-Shortface
Sphecodosoma dicksoni is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Timberlake in 1961. It belongs to the genus Sphecodosoma, commonly known as nama-shortface bees. The species has been recorded in Central America and North America. Very few observations exist in citizen science databases, suggesting it may be uncommon or underreported.
Sphecophagina
Sphecophagina is a subtribe of ichneumonid wasps within the family Ichneumonidae. Members are parasitoid wasps, with larvae developing inside or on other arthropod hosts. The subtribe is part of the diverse ichneumonid radiation, one of the largest families of wasps.
Sphelodon phoxopteridis
Sphelodon phoxopteridis is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Weed in 1888. The species is recorded from multiple localities in central Canada, particularly in Alberta and Saskatchewan. As a member of Ichneumonidae, it likely functions as a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host associations remain undocumented in available sources.
Sphex flavovestitus
Sphex flavovestitus is a species of thread-waisted digger wasp in the family Sphecidae, first described by Frederick Smith in 1856. The species is distributed across the Americas, with records from North America, Middle America, and South America. Two subspecies are recognized: the nominate Sphex flavovestitus flavovestitus and Sphex flavovestitus saussurei. Like other members of the genus Sphex, it is a solitary wasp that constructs subterranean nests provisioned with paralyzed prey for its larvae.
Sphex habenus
Golden-reined Digger Wasp
Sphex habenus is a solitary thread-waisted wasp in the family Sphecidae. Like other members of the genus Sphex, females construct individual subterranean nests provisioned with paralyzed prey for their larvae. The species is distributed across North and Middle America.
Spilomicrus exul
Spilomicrus exul is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Diapriidae, a group of small, often minute wasps that develop as parasitoids of other insects. The genus Spilomicrus is part of the diverse hymenopteran fauna that includes thousands of poorly studied species. Like other diapriid wasps, this species likely has a specialized host relationship, though specific biological details remain undocumented in available sources.
Spilopteron
Spilopteron is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Townes in 1960. These wasps are part of the diverse parasitoid wasp fauna. The genus has been documented in the northeastern United States, particularly Vermont. Little is known about the specific biology of most species in this genus.