Hymenoptera
Guides
Trypoxylon collinum rubrocinctum
Trypoxylon collinum rubrocinctum is a subspecies of potter wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is native to North America, with confirmed records from Ontario, Canada. As a member of the genus Trypoxylon, it is presumed to construct mud nests provisioned with paralyzed spiders, though specific biological details for this subspecies remain poorly documented. The subspecies was described by Packard in 1867.
Trypoxylon spinosum
Black Reed Wasp
Trypoxylon spinosum is a species of solitary spider-hunting wasp in the family Crabronidae. As a member of the subgenus Trypargilum, it is among the larger-bodied species in the genus. Like other Trypoxylon wasps, it nests in pre-existing cavities and provisions cells with paralyzed spiders for its offspring. The species was described by Cameron in 1889 and is known from Middle and North America.
Trypoxylon tridentatum archboldi
Trypoxylon tridentatum archboldi is a subspecies of spider-hunting wasp in the family Crabronidae. As a member of the subgenus Trypargilum, it belongs to a group of medium-sized to large Trypoxylon species that nest in pre-existing cavities rather than constructing free-standing mud nests. The species was described by Krombein in 1959 and is known from North America, with records from British Columbia, Canada. Like other Trypargilum species, it likely exhibits cooperative nesting behavior with males participating in nest guarding and maintenance, though specific behavioral documentation for this subspecies is limited.
Typhoctes
Typhoctes is a genus of wasps in the family Chyphotidae, a group of small, often nocturnal parasitoid wasps. These insects are part of the broader superfamily Apoidea, which includes bees and spheciform wasps. The genus is relatively poorly studied compared to related groups, with limited published information on its biology and ecology. Species in this genus are primarily known from specimens rather than detailed field observations.
Typhoctes striolatus
Typhoctes striolatus is a species of wingless wasp in the family Chyphotidae, a small group of parasitoid wasps closely related to velvet ants (Mutillidae). Like other chyphotids, this species exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism: females are apterous and resemble ants, while males possess wings. The genus Typhoctes is one of two genera in Chyphotidae and is characterized by reduced wing venation in males and specific antennal structures. Very few observations of this species exist in scientific databases.
Typhoctes williamsi
Typhoctes williamsi is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Chyphotidae, a small family of stinging wasps within the order Hymenoptera. The genus Typhoctes contains only two described species, with T. williamsi being one of them. Members of Chyphotidae are poorly studied and rarely encountered, with most information about the family coming from scattered collection records rather than systematic research. The species is known from extremely few observations.
Uropelma formosum
Uropelma formosum is a species of parasitic wasp in the family Eupelmidae, described by Sharkov in 1988. The genus Uropelma belongs to the chalcidoid wasp superfamily, a diverse group of tiny parasitoids. Distribution records indicate presence in Cuba (CU). The family Eupelmidae comprises species that are primarily parasitoids of insect eggs and larvae.
Urosigalphus
A genus of braconid wasps comprising over 100 described species distributed across North, Central, and South America. Species in this genus are parasitoids, with documented associations including beetle hosts in families Bruchidae and Curculionidae. Colombian species have been collected primarily from forest understories using Malaise traps.
Vespa
Hornets
Vespa is a genus of large social wasps known as hornets, comprising 22 recognized species worldwide. Members are distinguished from other vespine wasps by their relatively large top margin of the head and rounded abdominal segment behind the waist. Some species reach up to 5.5 cm in length, making them among the largest eusocial wasps. Several species are significant agricultural pests due to their predation on honey bees, including the Asian giant hornet (V. mandarinia) and yellow-legged hornet (V. velutina), both of which have been detected as invasive species in North America.
Vespidae
Hornets, Paper Wasps, Potter Wasps, Yellowjackets, Mason Wasps
A large, cosmopolitan family of wasps encompassing nearly 5,000 described species. Vespidae includes nearly all known eusocial wasps—such as hornets, yellowjackets, and paper wasps—as well as numerous solitary species including potter and mason wasps. The family exhibits remarkable diversity in nesting behavior, from paper nests constructed from chewed plant fibers to mud nests and soil burrows. Social colonies typically contain a reproductive queen and sterile or subfertile female workers, with temperate species producing new queens and males annually before colony collapse in winter.
Vespula germanica
German yellowjacket, European wasp, German wasp
Vespula germanica is a highly invasive social wasp native to Europe, Northern Africa, and temperate Asia that has established populations across much of the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere, including North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. It is one of the most successful invasive wasp species globally, characterized by exceptional cognitive flexibility, opportunistic foraging behavior, and adaptability to diverse environments. The species exhibits complex social organization with annual colonies founded by single queens, though perennial colonies occur in favorable climates. Its invasive success is attributed to flexible nesting habits, broad dietary range, and efficient resource exploitation, though human-aided transport of hibernating queens significantly contributes to long-distance dispersal.
Vespula infernalis
cuckoo yellowjacket, American cuckoo yellowjacket
Vespula infernalis is an obligate social parasite (inquiline) that invades and usurps colonies of other yellowjacket species, primarily Vespula acadica in North America. Unlike most parasitic wasps, it exhibits intensely aggressive behavior during colony takeover, using specialized morphological adaptations including a large, heavily curved stinger to subdue host workers. The species lacks a worker caste and cannot build nests or rear its own young, instead forcing host workers to feed and care for its brood through dominance behaviors including mauling and forced trophallaxis.
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squamosa
southern yellowjacket
Vespula squamosa, the southern yellowjacket, is a social wasp native to eastern North America, ranging from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic coast and south through Mexico to Guatemala. The species exhibits remarkable social plasticity: most colonies are annual and headed by a single queen, but in warmer climates colonies may become perennial, persisting multiple years and reaching extreme sizes with multiple reproductive queens (polygyny). Approximately 85% of colonies begin through facultative social parasitism, with V. squamosa queens usurping nests of V. maculifrons (eastern yellowjacket) or V. vidua (widow yellowjacket). Workers are approximately 13 mm long with black and yellow striping; queens are larger and more orange in coloration. The species is expanding its range northward and is now common in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Vipio
Vipio is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, first described by Latreille in 1805. Species in this genus are known to parasitize beetle larvae, particularly those in the family Curculionidae (weevils). The genus occurs across northern Europe and has been documented in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Virgichneumon zebratus
Virgichneumon zebratus is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Cresson in 1867. The specific epithet 'zebratus' refers to a zebra-striped or banded appearance. As a member of the subfamily Ichneumoninae (tribe Ichneumonini), it is presumed to be a parasitoid of Lepidoptera larvae, though specific host records remain undocumented. The genus Virgichneumon is characterized by distinctive morphological features in the propodeum and areolet wing cell structure.
Vulgichneumon
Vulgichneumon is a genus of ichneumon wasps established by Heinrich in 1961. The genus contains at least 30 described species. Members are parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families of Hymenoptera. These wasps are characterized by their slender bodies, long antennae, and elongated ovipositors typical of the family.
Vulgichneumon terminalis
Vulgichneumon terminalis is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Cresson in 1864. The genus Vulgichneumon comprises medium to large-sized ichneumonid wasps with characteristic color patterns. As a member of the Ichneumonidae, this species is a parasitoid wasp, though specific biological details remain poorly documented. The species is known from a limited number of observations and specimen records.
Waldheimia vitis
Waldheimia vitis is a sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae, first described by Harris in 1841. As a member of the suborder Symphyta (sawflies), it lacks the constricted waist characteristic of wasps and bees in the suborder Apocrita. The species epithet 'vitis' suggests a potential association with grape plants (Vitis spp.), though specific host relationships remain poorly documented. Sawflies in this family are typically phytophagous, with larvae feeding on plant foliage.
Wroughtonia
Wroughtonia is a genus of braconid wasps in the family Braconidae, subfamily Helconinae. The genus contains over 40 described species, with recent taxonomic work describing new species from Vietnam. As members of Braconidae, these wasps are presumed to be parasitoids, though specific host associations remain poorly documented for most species.
Wroughtonia ferruginea
Wroughtonia ferruginea is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, originally described by Brues in 1907. The genus Wroughtonia is part of the large and diverse ichneumonoid wasp superfamily, which contains thousands of species that primarily parasitize other insects. Very little specific biological information is available for this particular species.
Wroughtonia frigida
Wroughtonia frigida is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, first described by Cresson in 1873. The genus Wroughtonia belongs to the ichneumonoid wasp superfamily, a diverse group of parasitoids that attack other insects. Very little is known about the specific biology of this species. The species name 'frigida' suggests an association with cold environments, though this has not been explicitly documented.
Xenarcha
Xenarcha is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the subfamily Exothecinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). The genus was established by Förster in 1863. Taxonomic revisions have synonymized the names Pseudophanomeris and Shawiana with Xenarcha, treating them as subgenera. The Palaearctic fauna includes 28 known species. Recent taxonomic work from the Korean Peninsula has described additional species and clarified subgeneric classification.
Xenoglossa angustior
Red-tailed Squash Bee
Xenoglossa angustior, the Red-tailed Squash Bee, is a specialist pollinator of cucurbits (Cucurbitaceae) in the tribe Eucerini. It is native to North and Middle America and shares the common name "squash bee" with the related genus Peponapis. Both genera are oligoleges that pollinate exclusively squash, pumpkins, gourds, cucumbers, and zucchini.
Xeris
horntails
Xeris is a genus of horntails (woodwasps) in the family Siricidae, circumscribed by Achille Costa in 1894. The genus contains sixteen recognized species distributed across North America and Eurasia. Xeris species are distinguished from other siricid genera by specific wing venation and morphological features.
Xiphosomella dubia
Xiphosomella dubia is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, originally described by Brues in 1911. As a member of the Ichneumonidae, it is presumed to be a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host relationships remain undocumented in the provided sources. The genus Xiphosomella belongs to the superfamily Ichneumonoidea, one of the largest and most diverse groups of parasitoid wasps.
Xiphydria
wood wasps, xiphydriid wood wasps
Xiphydria is a genus of wood wasps in the family Xiphydriidae, distributed across the Holarctic region including Europe, Asia, and North America. Adults are characterized by a distinctive elongated 'neck' formed by the long propleuron, antennae with approximately 20 segments, and mandibles with four teeth. Females oviposit into diseased or dead wood of broadleaf trees and vector symbiotic fungi that decompose wood for larval consumption. The genus is univoltine with one generation per year. While generally of minor economic importance, some species can damage oak and other hardwoods.
Xiphydria tibialis
Xiphydria tibialis is a species of wood wasp in the family Xiphydriidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1824. It is one of several species in the genus Xiphydria, which are known as wood wasps due to their larvae developing in dead or dying wood. The species is native to North America. Limited observational data exists for this species, with only 8 documented observations on iNaturalist as of the source date.
Xorides albopictus
Xorides albopictus is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Cresson in 1870. It belongs to the genus Xorides, which comprises parasitoid wasps that attack wood-boring beetles. The specific epithet 'albopictus' (Latin for 'white-painted') likely refers to distinctive pale markings on the body. As with other members of its genus, this species is presumed to be a parasitoid of cerambycid or buprestid beetle larvae, though specific host records for X. albopictus appear limited in published literature.
Xorides calidus
Xorides calidus is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. It was described by Provancher in 1886. The genus Xorides belongs to the subfamily Poemeniinae, a group of parasitoid wasps known for attacking wood-boring beetle larvae. Members of this genus are typically associated with forest habitats where their hosts occur.
Xorides stigmapterus floridanus
Xorides stigmapterus floridanus is a subspecies of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Ashmead in 1890. Like other members of the genus Xorides, this wasp is likely an ectoparasitoid of wood-boring beetle larvae. The subspecies epithet "floridanus" suggests a geographic association with Florida, though specific biological details for this subspecies remain poorly documented.
Xorides stigmapterus stigmapterus
Xorides stigmapterus stigmapterus is a subspecies of ichneumonid wasp in the genus Xorides. It belongs to a group of parasitoid wasps that attack wood-boring beetle larvae. The genus Xorides is part of the family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families of Hymenoptera. Records indicate this subspecies occurs in Canada.
Xylocopa californica californica
Northern California Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa californica californica is a subspecies of carpenter bee native to western North America. It is one of three recognized carpenter bee species in California and is distinguished by its bluish metallic body reflections. The subspecies is found in mountain foothill regions of northern and southern California. Like other carpenter bees, it nests by tunneling into wood and serves as an important pollinator in native plant communities.
Xylocopa virginica krombeini
South Florida Eastern Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa virginica krombeini is a subspecies of the eastern carpenter bee restricted to southern Florida. As part of the Xylocopini tribe, it shares the robust body form and wood-nesting behavior characteristic of large carpenter bees. The subspecies designation reflects geographic isolation and potential morphological differentiation from nominate X. virginica populations in the eastern United States. Like other Xylocopa, it is a solitary bee with incipient social traits, including prolonged maternal care and cohabitation of daughters with mothers.
Yelicones delicatus
Yelicones delicatus is a species of braconid wasp described by Cresson in 1872. It belongs to the genus Yelicones, a group of parasitoid wasps within the family Braconidae. The species has been documented in 160 iNaturalist observations, indicating it is not uncommon in suitable habitats. Like other members of Braconidae, it is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host associations for this species remain undocumented in the available sources.
Yelicones pilops
Yelicones pilops is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, described by Quicke and Kruft in 1995. It belongs to the genus Yelicones, a group of braconid wasps characterized by distinctive morphological features. Like other members of its family, it is presumed to be a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host records for this species are not well documented. The species is known from limited collection records.
Zacosmia maculata
Spotted Mini-digger-Cuckoo
Zacosmia maculata is a species of kleptoparasitic bee in the family Apidae, tribe Melectini. As a cuckoo bee, females do not construct nests or collect pollen; instead, they lay eggs in the nests of host bees, primarily species of Hesperapis. The species occurs in western North America and parts of Middle America.
Zadiprion townsendi
bull pine sawfly
Zadiprion townsendi, commonly known as the bull pine sawfly, is a species of conifer sawfly in the family Diprionidae (Hymenoptera). The genus Zadiprion is a small group of sawflies whose larvae feed on pine needles. This species is associated with bull pine (Pinus ponderosa), serving as a defoliator of this economically important timber species. Like other diprionid sawflies, Z. townsendi undergoes complete metamorphosis with larval stages that feed gregariously on host foliage.
Zaeucoila
Zaeucoila is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Figitidae, established by Ashmead in 1903. Species within this genus are endoparasitoids of leaf-mining flies in the family Agromyzidae (Diptera), including significant agricultural pests such as Liriomyza sativae. The genus has undergone systematic revision to clarify species identities and document host associations. Developmental studies indicate complete immature stages require approximately 22 days, with distinct morphological changes between larval instars.
Zaglyptus pictilis
Zaglyptus pictilis is a species of ichneumon wasp described by Townes in 1960. It belongs to the genus Zaglyptus, a group of parasitoid wasps within the large family Ichneumonidae. The species is known from limited collection records and appears to be rarely encountered in the field. As with other Zaglyptus species, it is presumed to be a parasitoid of lepidopteran larvae, though direct host records for this specific species remain undocumented.
Zagrammosoma
tattooed wasps
Zagrammosoma is a genus of small parasitoid wasps in the family Eulophidae, commonly known as tattooed wasps. The genus contains 26 recognized species worldwide and is morphologically distinct from the related genus Cirrospilus. Members are parasitoids of leaf-mining insect larvae, primarily in the orders Lepidoptera and Diptera, with some species also attacking Hymenoptera leafminers. Several species have been documented as biological control agents for agricultural pests.
Zagrammosoma interlineatum
Zagrammosoma interlineatum is a species of chalcid wasp in the family Eulophidae, elevated from synonymy in a 2021 revision of the genus. It belongs to a group of small parasitoid wasps commonly known as "tattooed wasps" for their distinctive body markings. The genus Zagrammosoma is worldwide in distribution and morphologically distinct from the related genus Cirrospilus. Species in this genus are generally associated with leaf-mining insects as hosts.
Zagryphus
Zagryphus is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, established by Cushman in 1919. As a member of the Ichneumonoidea superfamily, species in this genus are parasitoid wasps. The genus is part of the diverse and species-rich Ichneumonidae family, one of the largest families of insects. Specific biological details for Zagryphus remain poorly documented in available literature.
Zaischnopsis
Zaischnopsis is a genus of chalcid wasps in the family Eupelmidae, established by Ashmead in 1904. These small parasitoid wasps belong to the diverse superfamily Chalcidoidea, one of the largest groups of parasitic Hymenoptera. Species in this genus are known primarily from taxonomic descriptions rather than ecological studies. The genus is distinguished from related eupelmids by specific morphological features of the mesosoma and metasoma.
Zanysson
Zanysson is a strictly New World genus of digger wasps in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae. The genus was established by Rohwer in 1921 and remained taxonomically stagnant for over 80 years until the description of Z. gemmatus from Colombia in 2007. Members are assumed to be cleptoparasites of other crabronid wasps, though direct biological observations are lacking for most species. The genus includes at least three described species distributed from the southwestern United States through Mexico to northwestern South America.
Zanysson plesius
Zanysson plesius is a species of wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae, first described by Rohwer in 1921. It belongs to the tribe Nyssonini, a group of sand wasps. The species is part of a genus containing at least three recognized species in North America, including Z. texanus and its subspecies. Specimens have been documented in museum collections, including holdings at the UCR Entomology Research Museum.
Zele albiditarsus
Zele albiditarsus is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, first described by John Curtis in 1832. The genus Zele comprises small to medium-sized braconid wasps that are parasitoids of lepidopteran larvae. This species has been recorded from parts of northwestern Europe including Belgium, Denmark, and Norway. As a member of the Braconidae, it is presumed to play a role in regulating populations of its host insects.
Zeta
potter wasps
Zeta is a small neotropical genus of potter wasps in the subfamily Eumeninae, family Vespidae. The genus currently contains four species, with most having restricted geographic distributions. Three species are limited to specific regions: Zeta confusum is endemic to Cuba, Zeta abdominale occurs on several Caribbean islands, and Zeta mendozanum is restricted to the Monte and Patagonia regions of Argentina. Zeta argillaceum is the exception, being widespread and common across much of the neotropics.
Zethus spinipes spinipes
Zethus spinipes spinipes is a subspecies of potter wasp in the genus Zethus. It belongs to the family Vespidae (or Eumenidae in some classifications). The genus Zethus comprises solitary wasps that construct mud or soil nests. This subspecies is recorded from the northeastern United States, including Vermont.
Zethus spinipes variegatus
A subspecies of potter wasp in the genus Zethus, distinguished by variegated coloration. As a member of the Eumeninae subfamily, it constructs mud or clay nests provisioned with paralyzed prey for its larvae. The subspecies designation indicates geographic variation in color pattern within the broader Zethus spinipes species complex.
Zikanapis elegans
Zikanapis elegans is a species of plasterer bee in the family Colletidae, originally described as Caupolicana elegans by Timberlake in 1965. It belongs to a genus of solitary bees found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like other colletid bees, it likely nests in the ground and lines its brood cells with a cellophane-like secretion. The species is poorly known, with limited observational records.