Download Family: Mutillidae (velvet ants) • very hairy, often brightly colored

General Entomology EEB 286
University of Connecticut
Fall 2006
Hymenoptera
Page 1
Family: Mutillidae (velvet ants)
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very hairy, often brightly colored
body robust, 6-20 mm
females wingless, males winged
can inflict painful sting
larvae parasitic on early stages of ground-nesting bees and wasps
often encountered in sandy and other
open habitats
about 435 NA species
Family: Formicidae (ants)
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first abdominal segment (or first two abdominal segments)
with dorsal node or hump
antenna 6-13-segmented, strongly elbowed; 1st segment quite
long
workers (sterile females) wingless; queens and males usually
winged (at least prior to nuptial flight)
social insects occurring in colonies
large and widely distributed family, occurring almost everywhere
most species nesting in ground, but many also in various cavities
feeding on all kinds of organic material: some predators, others phytophagous, a few social parasites
over 525 NA species
Vespidae & Pompilidae
- pronotum in lateral view triangular, extending to tegulae
Family: Pompilidae (spider wasps)
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mesopleura with transverse suture
long-legged, hind femora usually extending to apex of abdomen
wings not folded longitudinally at rest
first discoidal cell in forewing not particularly long
body 10-25 mm, usually dark colored but often with orange or red markings
larvae developing in underground nests, feeding on spiders paralyzed by female
females can inflict painful sting
290 NA species
Family: Vespidae (vespid wasps)
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first discoidal cell in forewing very long (half as long as wing)
wings folded longitudinally at rest
head often triangular when seen in front (Vespinae)
mostly social, building nests of paper-like substance or mud attached to rocks and twigs
many species predaceous
325 NA species
Family: Sphecidae (sphecid wasps)
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more than 1100 NA species
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pronotum in lateral view short and collar-like
mesosternum without forked process posteriorly
general appearance variable, abdomen often stalked at base
(Sphecinae)
mostly solitary wasps; some gregarious
ground and cavity nesters; females lay eggs on prey in burrows or
constructed nests
larvae feeding on live insects paralyzed by female
diversity especially high in sandy and other xeric habitats
General Entomology EEB 286
University of Connecticut
Fall 2006
Hymenoptera
Page 2
Superfamily: Apoidea (bees)
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body usually hairy; hairs branched or plumose
Family: Andrenidae (andrenid bees)
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2 subantennal sutures below each antennal socket
females with facial fovea
body small to medium, 5-25 mm, dark-colored
jugal lobe of hindwing longer than submedian cell
front wing with 3 submarginal cells (rarely w/ 2 in New England)
more than 1635 NA species
Family: Halictidae (halictid bees)
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one subantennal suture below each antennal socket
basal vein of forewing strongly arched
body small, 5-15 mm, black or dark-colored, sometimes metallic green
generally solitary bees, nesting in vertical tunnels in ground, but often large
numbers of individuals nesting close together
some species attracted to perspiration (sweat bees)
more than 500 NA species
Family: Megachilidae (leafcutting bees)
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single subantennal suture below outer margin of antennal sockets
pollen carried on underside of abdomen
stout-bodied, often dark-colored bees, 10-20 mm
jugal lobe of hindwing shorter than submedian cell
forewing with 2 nearly equal-sized submarginal cells
many use pieces of leaves and/or resin to build or strengthen their nests
more than 605 NA species
Family: Apidae (digger bees, carpenter bees, bumble bees, honey
bees etc.)
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first 2 segments of labial palpus elongate and flattened
glossa long and slender
pollen carried on hind tibia
jugal lobe in hindwing shorter than submedian cell (rarely absent)
usually 3 submarginal cells
diverse group of bees, varying in size, appearance, and habit
some eusocial, building nests in ground, in cavities excavated in
wood, hollow trees etc.
includes honey and bumblebees, as well as some social parasites