Primitive-hymenoptera
Guides
Megaxyela major
Megaxyela major is a species of sawfly in the family Xyelidae, one of the most primitive families of Hymenoptera. The genus Megaxyela contains some of the largest xyelid sawflies. Species in this genus are associated with walnut (Juglans) and hickory (Carya) trees as hosts for their larvae.
Megaxyela tricolor
Megaxyela tricolor is a species of sawfly in the family Xyelidae, the most primitive living family of Hymenoptera. The genus Megaxyela is characterized by its large body size relative to other xyelids. This species is known from Canada, with records from Ontario. Xyelid sawflies are typically associated with coniferous hosts, though specific host records for M. tricolor are not well documented.
Megischus californicus
Megischus californicus is a species of crown wasp in the family Stephanidae, an ancient lineage of parasitoid wasps characterized by their distinctive elongated, multi-segmented antennae. The genus Megischus represents one of the most primitive extant groups of Hymenoptera. This species is known from a single observation record, indicating it is either extremely rare, poorly sampled, or potentially extinct. Stephanidae are solitary parasitoids of wood-boring beetle larvae, using their long antennae to detect hosts within timber.
Xyelinae
xyeline sawflies
Xyelinae is a subfamily of primitive sawflies within the family Xyelidae, representing one of the earliest-diverging lineages of Hymenoptera. Members are small to medium-sized insects with distinctive morphological features including broad heads and relatively short antennae. The subfamily includes extant genera such as Xyela and Pleroneura, with larvae that develop in plant tissues. Xyelinae sawflies are primarily associated with conifers, particularly pines, where they exhibit specialized host relationships.