Hymenoptera
Guides
Centrodora
Centrodora is a genus of minute parasitoid wasps in the family Aphelinidae, comprising approximately 60 described species. The genus is notable for being the most polyphagous within Aphelinidae, with species attacking eggs of insects across multiple orders including Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera, and Hymenoptera, as well as pupae of Diptera and nymphs of Hemiptera. Several species have been investigated as biological control agents for crop and forest pests, including C. darwini and C. scolytivorae. The genus exhibits considerable morphological diversity, with some species groups potentially warranting elevation to separate genera.
Cephalonomia
Cephalonomia is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Bethylidae, containing over 20 described species. Species within this genus are primarily known as biological control agents targeting beetle pests in stored grain and agricultural systems. C. stephanoderis is extensively used against the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) in coffee-producing regions, while C. waterstoni and C. tarsalis target stored product beetles such as Laemophloeus ferrugineus and Oryzaephilus surinamensis. These wasps exhibit idiobiont parasitoid biology, with females attacking host larvae or pupae.
Cephini
Cephini is a tribe of stem sawflies within the family Cephidae, characterized by cylindrical, elongated bodies and larvae that bore into the stems of grasses and sedges. Members of this tribe are distinguished from related groups by their reduced wing venation and the presence of a distinct, elongated ovipositor in females. The tribe includes economically significant pests such as the wheat stem sawfly.
Cephus
stem sawflies
Cephus is a genus of stem sawflies in the family Cephidae, first described by Latreille in 1802. Members are found in Europe and North America. These insects are notable for their cylindrical, wasp-like bodies and their habit of boring into grass stems.
Ceranisus americensis
Ceranisus americensis is a Nearctic species of parasitoid wasp in the family Eulophidae. It is one of several thrips-attacking species placed in the genus Ceranisus. The species was described from North America and has been recorded from Canada and the United States. Like other members of the genus, it is a parasitoid of thrips (Thysanoptera).
Ceratina floridana
Florida Small Carpenter Bee
Ceratina floridana is a small carpenter bee endemic to Florida, described by Mitchell in 1962. As a member of the genus Ceratina, it belongs to a group of diminutive bees that nest in dead twigs and stems rather than excavating wood like their larger carpenter bee relatives (Xylocopa). The species has been documented through 226 iNaturalist observations, indicating moderate levels of contemporary detection. Like other Ceratina species, it likely exhibits solitary or weakly social nesting behavior, though specific behavioral details for this species remain poorly documented in published literature.
Ceratogastra
Ceratogastra is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae. The best-known species, Ceratogastra ornata, is a small wasp measuring 10–12 millimeters in body length, recognized by its ornate yellow and reddish-brown or black color pattern. Four subspecies of C. ornata are recognized, showing geographic variation in coloration from darker northern forms to paler western and southern populations. Members of this genus are flower visitors and parasitoids of moth larvae.
Cerceris blakei
Cerceris blakei is a species of solitary predatory wasp in the family Crabronidae. Like other members of the genus Cerceris, it is a ground-nesting wasp that provisions its underground nests with paralyzed insect prey for its larvae. The species was described by Cresson in 1865 and is native to North America. As with many Cerceris species, it likely specializes on particular prey groups, though specific prey associations for C. blakei are not well documented in the available literature.
Cerceris compacta
Cerceris compacta is a solitary predatory wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by Cresson in 1865. Like other members of the genus Cerceris, this species is a ground-nesting wasp that hunts and paralyzes prey to provision underground nests for its larvae. The species occurs in North America and Middle America. As a member of the Cerceris genus, it likely exhibits prey specialization, though specific prey preferences for C. compacta have not been documented in the available sources.
Cerceris conifrons
Cerceris conifrons is a solitary, ground-nesting wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by Mickel in 1916. Like other members of the genus Cerceris, this species is a specialist predator that captures and paralyzes specific insect prey to provision underground nests for its offspring. The species occurs in North America and Middle America, though detailed biological information remains limited compared to better-studied congeners such as C. fumipennis.
Cerceris deserta
Cerceris deserta is a solitary ground-nesting wasp in the family Crabronidae, described by Thomas Say in 1824. Like other members of the genus Cerceris, it is a predatory wasp that provisions its underground nests with paralyzed insect prey for its offspring. The specific epithet "deserta" suggests an association with arid or desert environments, though precise ecological details remain limited in available literature. The species is part of a diverse genus of hunting wasps, many of which exhibit prey specialization.
Cerceris finitima
Cerceris finitima is a solitary predatory wasp in the family Crabronidae, described by Cresson in 1865. Like other members of the genus Cerceris, it is a ground-nesting species that provisions its underground nests with paralyzed insect prey for its larvae. The species occurs in North America and Middle America. Specific details regarding its prey preferences and biology remain poorly documented compared to better-studied congeners such as C. fumipennis.
Cerceris flavofasciata
Cerceris flavofasciata is a solitary predatory wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by H. Smith in 1908. As a member of the genus Cerceris, it likely shares the characteristic prey specialization typical of the genus, where individual species focus on particular beetle groups. The species is found in North America, though detailed ecological studies are limited compared to better-known congeners such as C. fumipennis.
Cerceris flavofasciata floridensis
Cerceris flavofasciata floridensis is a subspecies of the crabronid wasp C. flavofasciata, described by Banks in 1915. It is currently treated as a synonym in taxonomic databases. The parent species belongs to a genus of solitary, ground-nesting predatory wasps that specialize on particular beetle prey. While specific information for this subspecies is sparse, congeners such as C. fumipennis have been extensively studied for their role in biosurveillance of invasive buprestid beetles.
Cerceris frontata
Cerceris frontata is a solitary wasp species in the family Crabronidae, native to North America. Like other members of the genus Cerceris, it is a ground-nesting predator that provisions its nests with paralyzed insect prey for its larvae. The species was first described by Thomas Say in 1823. Specific prey preferences and detailed biology remain poorly documented compared to better-studied congeners such as C. fumipennis.
Cerceris gnarina
Cerceris gnarina is a solitary ground-nesting wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by Nathan Banks in 1913. Like other members of the genus Cerceris, this species is a specialist predator that captures and paralyzes prey to provision underground nests for its larvae. The species is known from North America, though specific details about its biology and prey preferences remain poorly documented compared to better-studied congeners such as C. fumipennis.
Cerceris intricata graphica
Cerceris intricata graphica is a subspecies of wasp in the family Crabronidae, first described by Frederick Smith in 1873. It belongs to the genus Cerceris, a group of solitary wasps known for their specialized prey-capture behavior. Members of this genus dig underground nests and provision them with paralyzed insects for their larvae. The subspecies is distributed in Middle America and South America.
Cerceris rufopicta
Cerceris rufopicta is a solitary ground-nesting wasp in the family Crabronidae (formerly Philanthidae). It is native to North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other members of the genus Cerceris, it is a specialist predator that captures and paralyzes prey to provision underground nests for its larvae. The specific prey preferences for this species have not been documented in the available literature.
Cerceris verticalis
Cerceris verticalis is a solitary predatory wasp in the family Crabronidae. Like other members of the genus Cerceris, it constructs underground nests and provisions them with paralyzed insect prey for its larvae. The species was described by Frederick Smith in 1856 and occurs in North America and Middle America. As a member of the diverse genus Cerceris, it likely specializes on a particular prey group, though specific prey associations remain undocumented in the available sources.
Cerchysiella scutellata
Cerchysiella scutellata is a species of parasitic wasp in the family Encyrtidae, described by Howard in 1897. The genus Cerchysiella is part of one of the largest and most important collections of Encyrtidae at the University of California, Riverside. Specimens of this species are represented in major entomological collections and have been documented from point-mounted specimens at UCR.
Ceropales
cuckoo spider wasp
Ceropales is a genus of kleptoparasitic spider wasps in the family Pompilidae, comprising approximately 30 described species distributed worldwide. These wasps are obligate cleptoparasites that exploit the prey of other solitary wasps rather than hunting spiders themselves. The genus originated in Eurasia approximately 10.6 million years ago and achieved its cosmopolitan distribution through multiple long-distance dispersal events across land bridges and oceanic barriers.
Ceropales elegans elegans
Ceropales elegans elegans is a subspecies of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, first described by Cresson in 1872. It belongs to a genus known for kleptoparasitic behavior, where females lay eggs in the nests of other spider wasps. The subspecies is recorded from Texas. Members of the genus Ceropales are characterized by their slender bodies and distinctive coloration patterns.
Ceropales maculata rhodomerus
Ceropales maculata rhodomerus is a subspecies of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, described by Townes in 1957. It is part of a genus known for kleptoparasitic behavior, where females steal prey from other spider wasps rather than hunting spiders directly. The subspecies epithet 'rhodomerus' refers to its reddish coloration. Records indicate presence in Belgium, Denmark, and Norway, suggesting a northwestern European distribution.
Ceropales maculata stretchii
Ceropales maculata stretchii is a subspecies of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, described by Fox in 1892. As a member of the genus Ceropales, it belongs to a group of wasps known for their kleptoparasitic behavior, laying eggs in spiders already paralyzed by other spider wasps. The subspecies has been recorded from Belgium, Denmark, and Norway, suggesting a European distribution.
Ceropales pacifica
Ceropales pacifica is a spider wasp (family Pompilidae) described by Townes in 1957. In Colorado Springs, it has been observed as a potential model for Müllerian or Batesian mimicry, with the ichneumon wasp Ceratogastra ornata showing striking similarities in coloration and pattern. As a member of the genus Ceropales, it belongs to a group of spider wasps known for their distinctive morphology and behavior.
Ceropales rugata
Ceropales rugata is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, described by Townes in 1957. The genus Ceropales comprises kleptoparasitic spider wasps that do not hunt spiders themselves but instead lay eggs on spiders captured by other pompilid wasps. This species belongs to a lineage exhibiting Batesian mimicry of stinging spider wasps, particularly in the genus Poecilopompilus.
Ceroptresini
Ceroptresini is a tribe of inquiline gall wasps in the family Cynipidae, containing two genera: Ceroptres (with 43 species) and Buffingtonella (with one species). First established as a tribe in 2015, these wasps are predominantly found in North America, though some species occur in the Eastern Palearctic and Oriental regions. Members of this tribe do not induce their own galls but instead inhabit galls created by other cynipid wasps, primarily on oaks (Quercus spp.), with some species reared from cecidomyiid midge galls.
Chalcedectus caelata
Chalcedectus caelata is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Chalcedectidae, described by Grissell in 1991. It belongs to the superfamily Chalcidoidea, a diverse group of minute wasps. The family Chalcedectidae is a small, specialized group within this superfamily. Very little specific information is available about the biology or ecology of this particular species.
Chalcedectus texanus
Chalcedectus texanus is a species of chalcidoid wasp in the family Chalcedectidae, originally described by Brues in 1907. The species is known from Texas, as indicated by its specific epithet and distribution records. Chalcedectidae is a small family of parasitoid wasps within the superfamily Chalcidoidea.
Chalcidoidea
Chalcidoid Wasps, Chalcid Wasps, Jewel Wasps
Chalcidoidea is a superfamily of Hymenoptera containing over 22,500 described species, with an estimated true diversity exceeding 500,000 species. Members are commonly known as chalcidoid wasps or jewel wasps due to their often metallic coloration. They are predominantly parasitoid wasps that attack other insects to lay eggs upon or within hosts, with larvae feeding and developing at the host's expense. The group originated in the late Jurassic approximately 162 million years ago, with fossil evidence extending to 130 million years ago.
Charmontinae
Charmontinae is a small subfamily of parasitoid wasps within Braconidae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea). The subfamily contains the genus Charmon, with 10 recognized species distributed primarily in the Palearctic and Oriental regions. The first Southeast Asian record was documented from Thailand in 2023 with the description of Charmon thailandensis. Species identification relies on morphological characters and DNA barcode data.
Cheiloneurus
parasitic wasp
Cheiloneurus is a genus of parasitic wasps in the family Encyrtidae. Species within this genus function primarily as hyperparasitoids, attacking other parasitoid wasps that develop within scale insects, mealybugs, and other hemipteran hosts. The genus is characterized by distinctive morphological features including a group of coarse bristles at the apex of the scutellum and a long marginal vein on the fore wings. Cheiloneurus species have been recorded from multiple continents including Asia, Europe, North America, and South America, with some species being utilized or studied for biological control applications.
Cheiropachus
Cheiropachus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Pteromalidae, first described by Westwood in 1829. Species within this genus are known to parasitize bark beetles (Scolytidae), with C. quadrum being the most studied species due to its role as a biological control agent of olive bark beetles in southern Europe. The genus occurs in Europe and North America, with at least ten recognized species.
Cheloninae
chelonine wasps
Cheloninae is a cosmopolitan subfamily of braconid parasitoid wasps, distinguished by a distinctive metasomal carapace formed from the fusion of the first three tergites. Members are solitary koinobiont endoparasitoids that primarily attack Lepidoptera, particularly Pyraloidea and Tortricoidea. They are egg-larval parasitoids, ovipositing into host eggs but completing development only after the caterpillar hatches and matures. Chelonines carry polydnaviruses that aid in suppressing host immune responses.
Chelostoma philadelphi
Mock-orange Scissor Bee
Chelostoma philadelphi is a small solitary bee in the family Megachilidae, commonly known as the Mock-orange Scissor Bee. The species is native to North America and has been documented in the northeastern United States, including Vermont. Its morphology and nesting biology have been formally described, though detailed ecological data remain limited. The species belongs to a genus of scissor bees characterized by specialized nesting habits.
Chorinaeus aequalis
Chorinaeus aequalis is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Townes & Townes in 1959. It belongs to the genus Chorinaeus, which is part of the superfamily Ichneumonoidea. The species is known from at least one occurrence record in Edmonton, Canada, as documented in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Like other ichneumonid wasps, it is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host relationships have not been documented.
Chrysidinae
cuckoo wasps
Chrysidinae is the largest and most familiar subfamily of cuckoo wasps, containing approximately 3000 species across 48 genera worldwide. These wasps are renowned for their brilliant metallic coloration, primarily in blues and greens, and their heavily sculptured exoskeletons. They are obligate brood parasites of solitary bees and wasps, with females incapable of stinging due to modification of the sting apparatus into an egg-laying tube. Their distinctive defensive behavior involves rolling into a ball to protect vulnerable appendages when threatened.
Chrysis antennalis
Chrysis antennalis is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae, described by Rosen & DeBach in 1979. Like other members of the genus Chrysis, this species is a kleptoparasite that lays eggs in the nests of other solitary wasps and bees. The larvae consume the provisions intended for the host's offspring.
Chrysis apontis
Chrysis apontis is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae, described by Bohart in 1982. Cuckoo wasps in the genus Chrysis are kleptoparasitic, laying eggs in the nests of other solitary wasps and bees. The larvae consume the host's provisions and offspring. Members of this genus are known for their metallic coloration and heavily armored exoskeletons.
Chrysis cessata
Chrysis cessata is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae, first described by Buysson in 1891. Like other members of the genus Chrysis, it is a parasitoid that exploits the nests of solitary wasps and bees. Cuckoo wasps are characterized by their brilliant metallic coloration and heavily armored exoskeletons that allow them to resist attacks from host species.
Chrysis coloradica
Chrysis coloradica is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a parasitoid that targets the nests of solitary wasps or bees. Cuckoo wasps in this genus are known for their brilliant metallic coloration and armored exoskeletons that protect them from host defenses. The specific epithet "coloradica" suggests a connection to Colorado or the western United States, though precise distribution details for this species are not well-documented in the provided sources.
Chrysis derivata
Chrysis derivata is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Like other members of this genus, it is a parasitoid that targets the nests of solitary wasps and bees. The species exhibits the characteristic metallic coloration typical of Chrysis wasps. Very few observations of this species have been recorded, with only two documented occurrences in iNaturalist, indicating it is either rare, underreported, or restricted in distribution.
Chrysis dorsalis
Chrysis dorsalis is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Like other members of this genus, it exhibits the characteristic metallic coloration and parasitic lifestyle typical of the group. Cuckoo wasps in this genus are known for their armored exoskeletons and ability to infiltrate the nests of solitary wasps and bees to lay their eggs. The specific biology and host associations of C. dorsalis remain poorly documented in available sources.
Chrysis inaequidens
Chrysis inaequidens is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae, first described by Dahlbom in 1854. Like other members of its genus, it is a parasitoid that lays eggs in the nests of solitary wasps and bees. The species exhibits the characteristic metallic coloration typical of cuckoo wasps. As with many Chrysis species, detailed biological information is limited due to their secretive lifestyle and the taxonomic challenges of distinguishing closely related species.
Chrysis montana
Chrysis montana is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Cuckoo wasps in this genus are kleptoparasites that lay eggs in the nests of other solitary wasps and bees. The species epithet "montana" suggests an association with mountainous regions, though specific ecological details for this species remain undocumented. Members of Chrysis are recognized by their brilliant metallic coloration and compact, armored bodies.
Chrysis parkeri
Chrysis parkeri is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Cuckoo wasps are kleptoparasites that lay eggs in the nests of other solitary wasps and bees, with their larvae consuming the host's food stores. Members of the genus Chrysis are known for their striking metallic coloration and heavily armored exoskeletons.
Chrysis pellucidula
Chrysis pellucidula is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Like other members of the genus Chrysis, it is a parasitoid that lays eggs in the nests of solitary wasps and bees. The species exhibits the characteristic metallic coloration typical of cuckoo wasps, though specific details of its appearance and biology are not well-documented in available sources.
Chrysis propria
Chrysis propria is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Cuckoo wasps are parasitic wasps that lay eggs in the nests of other solitary wasps and bees. Members of the genus Chrysis are known for their striking metallic coloration and armored exoskeletons that provide defense against host attacks.
Chrysis provancheri
Chrysis provancheri is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Cuckoo wasps in this genus are known for their metallic coloration and parasitic lifestyle, laying eggs in the nests of other solitary wasps. The species was described by Schulz in 1906. Like other members of Chrysididae, it possesses a heavily armored exoskeleton that provides protection when entering host nests.
Chrysis tenuicornis
Chrysis tenuicornis is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Members of this genus are known for their striking metallic coloration and parasitic lifestyle, laying eggs in the nests of other solitary wasps and bees. The specific epithet "tenuicornis" refers to slender antennae, a characteristic that may aid in species identification within this diverse genus.