Hymenoptera
Guides
Caliroa lorata
Caliroa lorata is a species of sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae. The genus Caliroa contains species commonly known as oak-skeletonizers due to their distinctive larval feeding behavior on oak leaves. Larvae feed on the undersides of leaves, consuming tissue between the veins while leaving the upper epidermis and veins intact, creating a skeletonized appearance. The species is part of a group of sawflies that exhibit host plant specialization, primarily associated with oaks (Quercus species).
Caliroa nyssae
tupelo sawfly, black gum sawfly
Caliroa nyssae is a sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae that feeds on Nyssa sylvatica (black tupelo or black gum). The larvae skeletonize leaves, leaving a characteristic lace-like pattern of veins. This species is part of a genus of oak-skeletonizing sawflies, though C. nyssae has specialized on tupelo rather than oak. Adults are small, dark-colored sawflies with the typical broad waist characteristic of suborder Symphyta, distinguishing them from the narrow-waisted wasps in suborder Apocrita.
Caliroa quercuscoccinae
Oak-skeletonizing sawfly
Caliroa quercuscoccinae is a sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae. The larvae are known for skeletonizing oak leaves, feeding on the tissue between the leaf veins while leaving the veins intact. This feeding pattern creates a distinctive lace-like appearance on damaged foliage. The species is part of a genus whose larvae are commonly referred to as slug sawflies due to their slimy, slug-like appearance and locomotion.
Calliephialtes ferrugineus
Calliephialtes ferrugineus is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Cushman in 1940. It belongs to a genus of parasitoid wasps whose members are known to attack concealed hosts, particularly moth larvae. The specific epithet 'ferrugineus' refers to a rusty or reddish-brown coloration. Very few documented observations of this species exist, with only two records in iNaturalist as of the knowledge cutoff.
Callihormius stigmatus
Callihormius stigmatus is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, described by Marsh in 1966. The genus Callihormius belongs to a group of braconid wasps characterized by distinctive wing venation patterns. Like other members of Braconidae, this species is presumed to be a koinobiont parasitoid, developing within a living host. Published biological data for this species remain extremely limited.
Calliopsis barbata
Calliopsis barbata is a small mining bee in the family Andrenidae, first described by Timberlake in 1952. As a member of the genus Calliopsis, it belongs to a group of solitary, ground-nesting bees commonly found in open, sandy habitats. The species occurs in Central America and North America, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented in published literature.
Calliopsis fracta
Calliopsis fracta is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, originally described as Nomadopsis fracta by Rozen in 1952. It belongs to the tribe Calliopsini within the subfamily Panurginae. The species is native to North America and is part of a diverse genus of solitary bees that nest in the ground.
Calliopsis helianthi
Calliopsis helianthi is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae. It is native to Central America and North America. Like other members of the genus Calliopsis, this species nests in the ground and is solitary, with each female constructing and provisioning her own nest burrow.
Calliopsis obscurella
Calliopsis obscurella is a small mining bee species in the family Andrenidae, first described by Cresson in 1879. It occurs in Central America and North America. Like other members of its genus, it is a solitary ground-nesting bee. Specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented.
Calliopsis rhodophila
Calliopsis rhodophila is a mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Cockerell in 1897. The species occurs in Central and North America, where it nests in sandy soils. Like other members of the genus, it is solitary and ground-nesting. Observations of related Calliopsis species suggest males are notably larger than typical for the genus and exhibit hovering flight behavior near female nesting sites.
Calliopsis scutellaris
Calliopsis scutellaris is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Fowler in 1899. The species occurs in Central America and North America. It belongs to a genus of small to very small bees that typically nest in sandy soils.
Calliopsis subalpina
Calliopsis subalpina is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, first described by Theodore Dru Alison Cockerell in 1894. As a member of the genus Calliopsis, it belongs to a group of small to medium-sized solitary bees that nest in the ground. The species occurs in Central America and North America, with records spanning from middle to high elevations. Like other Andrenidae, females construct individual burrows in soil to provision with pollen and nectar for their offspring.
Callirhytis ellipsoida
Callirhytis ellipsoida is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. Like other members of its genus, it induces the formation of galls on oak hosts. The species exhibits the typical complex life cycle of oak cynipids, with alternating sexual and asexual generations that produce morphologically distinct galls.
Callirhytis elliptica
Callirhytis elliptica is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. The species is known to induce galls on oak hosts, consistent with the genus's well-documented association with oaks. As with other members of Callirhytis, this species exhibits the complex life cycles typical of cynipid gall wasps, often involving alternating sexual and asexual generations that produce different gall forms. Specific details regarding the morphology of its galls and precise host oak species remain limited in published sources.
Callirhytis favosa
Honeycomb leaf gall wasp
Callirhytis favosa is a gall wasp in the family Cynipidae that induces distinctive honeycomb-patterned galls on oak leaves. The species exhibits the complex life cycle typical of many cynipids, with alternating sexual and asexual generations that produce different gall types on different oak tissues. The specific epithet 'favosa' refers to the honeycomb-like appearance of the galls.
Callirhytis flavipes
Callirhytis flavipes is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. Species in this genus are known to induce galls on oak trees (Quercus spp.). The genus Callirhytis is part of the tribe Cynipini, which comprises the oak gall wasps. Specific biological details for C. flavipes remain poorly documented in accessible literature.
Callirhytis frequens
Callirhytis frequens is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. Members of the genus Callirhytis are known to induce galls on oak species (Quercus). The species exhibits the complex life cycle typical of many cynipids, with alternating sexual and asexual generations that often produce morphologically distinct galls on different oak tissues or species. As with most Callirhytis species, detailed natural history information for C. frequens remains limited in published literature.
Callirhytis furva
Callirhytis furva is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. Like other members of the genus Callirhytis, it induces galls on oak trees (Quercus spp.). The species exhibits the complex life cycle typical of many cynipid wasps, with alternating sexual and asexual generations that often produce distinct gall morphologies on different plant tissues.
Callirhytis glandulus
Callirhytis glandulus is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. Like other members of the genus Callirhytis, this species induces the formation of galls on oak hosts (Quercus). The species was described by Beutenmüller in 1913. As with many Cynipidae, it likely exhibits an alternating generation life cycle with distinct sexual and asexual phases that produce different gall morphologies.
Callirhytis juvenca
Callirhytis juvenca is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. Like other members of its genus, it induces galls on oak hosts (Quercus species). The species exhibits the typical complex life cycle of cynipid gall wasps, with alternating sexual and asexual generations that often produce morphologically distinct galls. Specific details regarding its host associations and gall morphology remain limited in published literature.
Callirhytis lanata
Callirhytis lanata is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. It induces galls on oak species (Quercus), with specific host associations and gall morphology distinguishing it from congeners. The species exhibits the typical cynipid life cycle with alternating sexual and asexual generations that produce different gall forms.
Callirhytis pedunculata
Callirhytis pedunculata is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. Like other members of its genus, it induces galls on oak trees (Quercus species). The species exhibits the typical complex life cycle of cynipid gall wasps, with alternating sexual and asexual generations that often produce distinct gall morphologies on different oak tissues.
Callirhytis perditor
Callirhytis perditor is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. Like other members of its genus, it induces the formation of galls on oak trees (Quercus species). The species exhibits the complex life cycle typical of many cynipid wasps, with alternating sexual and asexual generations that often produce morphologically distinct galls on different parts of the host plant.
Callirhytis piperoides
Callirhytis piperoides is a gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. Like other members of its genus, it induces gall formation on oak hosts (Quercus species). The species was described by Bassett in 1900. As with many Cynipidae, it exhibits a complex life cycle involving alternating generations that may produce different gall types on different plant tissues.
Callirhytis quercusmodesta
Callirhytis quercusmodesta is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. The species induces galls on oaks (Quercus spp.) as part of its life cycle. Like other members of the genus Callirhytis, it exhibits heterogony, with alternating sexual and asexual generations that produce morphologically distinct galls. The species is known from the central United States.
Callirhytis quercusoperator
Woolly Catkin Gall Wasp
Callirhytis quercusoperator is a cynipid gall wasp that induces galls on oak catkins. The species exhibits a complex life cycle with alternating generations, a common trait among Cynipidae. The galls produced by this species are characterized by a woolly or fuzzy appearance on catkins of oak trees. First described by Osten Sacken in 1862, it remains an active subject of observation with over 1,000 records on iNaturalist.
Callirhytis rugulosa
Callirhytis rugulosa is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. Like other members of this family, it induces the formation of galls on host plants, though specific gall morphology and host associations for this species are not well documented in available sources. The species belongs to a genus predominantly associated with oak galls.
Callirhytis seminator
Wool Sower, Wool Sower Gall Wasp
Callirhytis seminator, commonly known as the wool sower, is a gall wasp that induces distinctive cotton-like galls on white oak trees. The species exhibits a complex alternating life cycle involving two different gall types, though the alternate gall form remains unidentified. Adults are small, dark brown wasps approximately 3 mm in length. The species poses no threat to humans or oak tree health.
Callirhytis seminosa
Callirhytis seminosa is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. Like other members of its genus, this species induces galls on oak hosts (Quercus spp.). The genus Callirhytis is known for forming distinct galls on oaks, with different species typically associated with specific oak species or gall morphologies. The specific epithet "seminosa" suggests a possible association with seed or acorn-related structures, though this remains speculative without direct observation.
Callirhytis tubicola
Callirhytis tubicola is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. Like other members of its genus, it induces galls on oak trees. The species exhibits the complex life cycle typical of oak gall wasps, with alternating sexual and asexual generations that produce distinct gall morphologies on different oak tissues.
Calliscelio
Calliscelio is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Scelionidae, comprising 97 described species worldwide. The genus was erected by Ashmead in 1893. Members are egg parasitoids of crickets (Gryllidae), with at least one species, C. elegans, recognized as a widespread "tramp species" likely dispersed by human commerce.
Calliscelio rubiclavus
Calliscelio rubiclavus is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Scelionidae. Members of this genus are egg parasitoids, primarily targeting the eggs of Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids). The species was described in the 20th century as part of taxonomic revisions of the genus Calliscelio. Like other scelionids, it likely plays a role in regulating orthopteran populations.
Calopompilus albopilosus
Calopompilus albopilosus is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae. The species was described by Cresson in 1867. Current taxonomy recognizes this name as a synonym of Chirodamus albopilosus. Members of the genus Calopompilus are known for their specialized predation on spiders.
Calopompilus validus
spider wasp
Calopompilus validus is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae. The genus Calopompilus was established to accommodate species previously placed in Chirodamus, though taxonomic relationships within Pompilidae remain under study. As with other pompilid wasps, this species is presumed to be a solitary hunter that provisions its nest with paralyzed spiders. The species was originally described by Cresson in 1867. Very few documented observations exist, with only 2 records in iNaturalist.
Camponotus chromaiodes
ferruginous carpenter ant, red carpenter ant
Camponotus chromaiodes, commonly known as the ferruginous or red carpenter ant, is a species of carpenter ant native to the eastern United States with records extending to Nebraska, Kansas, and possibly California. Workers of this species have been observed removing honeydew droplets from spotted lanternfly nymphs, suggesting potential for developing mutualistic relationships with honeydew-producing insects. Like other carpenter ants, it excavates galleries in wood for colony housing rather than consuming wood for nutrition.
Camponotus essigi
Essig's Carpenter Ant
Camponotus essigi is a carpenter ant species native to the western United States and possibly Coahuila, Mexico. It belongs to the large genus Camponotus, which comprises over 1,000 species worldwide. A mislabeled specimen reportedly from Trinidad and Tobago was determined to be a location error by R. R. Snelling in 2000, confirming the species' restricted western North American distribution. Like other carpenter ants, it nests in wood and exhibits the polymorphic worker caste system typical of the genus.
Camponotus laevissimus
giant carpenter ant, Hairy Smooth Carpenter Ant
Camponotus laevissimus is a large carpenter ant native to western North America, ranging from western Canada through the United States to Mexico. Workers are among the largest in the genus, measuring 7–13 mm. The species is notable for its distinctive shiny black coloration with a blue iridescent tint and dense covering of short white hairs. It is primarily diurnal and specializes in nesting within redwood trees (Sequoia sempervirens), hollowing out cavities rather than consuming the wood. A documented predator of western spruce budworm pupae, this species plays a role in forest pest dynamics. Formerly known as C. laevigatus, it was reclassified by Mackay in 2019.
carpenter-antredwood-specialistdiurnalforest-pest-predatorwestern-North-AmericaCamponotusFormicidaeHymenopterablue-iridescencewhite-pubescencewestern-spruce-budworm-predatorSequoia-sempervirens-associatemoist-wood-nestinglarge-ant-speciespolymorphic-workersclaustral-colony-foundationhoneydew-tendingstructural-pestMackay-2019formerly-C.-laevigatusCamponotus mina
Camponotus mina is a species of carpenter ant in the genus Camponotus, native to southwestern North America and northern Mexico. It belongs to the diverse carpenter ant genus, which includes species known for nesting in wood and exhibiting polymorphic worker castes. The species was described by Auguste Forel in 1879.
Camponotus modoc
Western Carpenter Ant, Western Black Carpenter Ant
Camponotus modoc, the western carpenter ant, is a large black ant species native to western North America. Workers exhibit polymorphism, ranging from 7 to 13 mm in length, with dark red legs contrasting against a black body. The species constructs nests in dead wood, including forest logs and human structures, and is known for its mutualistic associations with aphids, particularly Cinara occidentalis on white fir. Research demonstrates trail fidelity and colony recognition abilities, with workers returning to specific aphid colonies even after displacement.
carpenter-antwestern-north-americaaphid-mutualismstructural-pestpolymorphismtrail-fidelitychemical-ecologygiant-sequoia-forestforest-ecologyurban-pestCamponotiniFormicinaeHymenopterainvasive-potentialnestmate-recognitionalarm-communicationforaging-ecologyconifer-forestwood-excavationsatellite-colonyCamponotus sansabeanus
Camponotus sansabeanus is a species of carpenter ant native to western North America and parts of the southern United States. It belongs to the large genus Camponotus, which comprises over 1,000 species worldwide. Like other carpenter ants, it excavates wood to create nest galleries rather than consuming wood as food. The species is found in diverse habitats ranging from arid western regions to more humid southeastern localities.
Camponotus snellingi
Snelling's Carpenter Ant
Camponotus snellingi is a species of carpenter ant named in honor of the myrmecologist Roy R. Snelling. As a member of the genus Camponotus, it shares the characteristic wood-nesting behavior typical of carpenter ants, excavating galleries in dead or decaying wood rather than consuming it. The species was described by Barry Bolton in 1995. Like other Camponotus species, it exhibits polymorphic worker castes with distinct size classes.
Campsomerini
mammoth wasps
Campsomerini is a cosmopolitan tribe within the family Scoliidae (Hymenoptera), currently classified under subfamily Scoliinae. Members are commonly known as mammoth wasps. The tribe's higher-level taxonomy has been unstable, having been treated historically as subfamily Campsomerinae before being demoted to tribal status. Recent phylogenetic studies using ultraconserved element (UCE) data support Campsomerini sensu stricto (excluding Colpa and allies) as monophyletic, with the Australasian genus Trisciloa as sister to remaining members.
Cantharoctonus
Cantharoctonus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, first described by Viereck in 1912. Members of this genus are part of the diverse ichneumonoid wasp fauna, which are primarily known for their role as parasitoids of other insects. The genus is placed within the subfamily-level grouping of Braconidae, though its precise phylogenetic position within the family requires further study. As with many braconid genera, species-level diversity and biology remain poorly documented.
Capitonius
Capitonius is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, first described by Brullé in 1846. Members of this genus are small wasps belonging to the diverse ichneumonoid wasp radiation. The genus is poorly known, with minimal published biological information and only a handful of observations recorded.
Cardiochiles
Cardiochiles is a genus of braconid wasps with nearly cosmopolitan distribution. Species are larval endoparasitoids, primarily attacking lepidopteran hosts. The genus includes economically significant species used in biological control, particularly against noctuid pests in agricultural systems.
Cardiochilinae
Cardiochilinae is a subfamily of braconid wasps comprising approximately 20 genera and 220+ species. Members are solitary koinobiont endoparasitoids of Lepidoptera caterpillars. Females inject polydnavirus during oviposition to manipulate host immune response. Some species, notably Toxoneuron nigriceps, have been employed in biological control programs against agricultural pests.
Cardiocondyla emeryi obscurior
Cardiocondyla emeryi obscurior is a subspecies of ant in the genus Cardiocondyla, a group known for morphological and behavioral diversity particularly among male ants. The genus Cardiocondyla contains small, often inconspicuous ants with wide geographic distributions. This subspecies designation indicates taxonomic differentiation within the widespread C. emeryi species complex.
Carebara longii
Carebara longii is a species of minute myrmicine ant in the genus Carebara, one of the smallest ant genera globally. Workers are barely visible to the naked eye and are typically collected by sifting leaf litter and examining extracts under a microscope. The species was described by Wheeler in 1903. Like other Carebara species, it likely inhabits leaf litter in tropical and subtropical environments, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Caulocampus
Caulocampus is a genus of sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae, first described by Rohwer in 1912. As a member of the sawfly family, it belongs to a group of herbivorous Hymenoptera that are often mistaken for wasps but lack the constricted waist characteristic of many other hymenopterans. The genus contains relatively few documented species and is poorly represented in public biodiversity databases, with limited observational records.
Centris cockerelli
Cockerell's Oil-Digger
Centris cockerelli is a species of oil-collecting bee in the family Apidae, described by Fox in 1899. As a member of the tribe Centridini, it is one of the bees specialized in collecting floral oils rather than nectar. The species occurs in Central America and North America, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented in scientific literature.