Flies

Order Hymenoptera

The Flies (Order Hymenoptera) includes 5,194 species across 102 families and 1,491 genera in our directory.

About Flies

Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).

Economic Impact

Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.

Ecological Role

About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.

Families in Hymenoptera (102)

Species in Hymenoptera (5,194)

Pristepyris fraternus

Bethylidae

Identification: Similar to P. armifera. Compared to P. armifera, females of this species have a comparatively longer head that is strongly polished & non-alutaceous, while males have longer setulae on antennal segment 11 and the pronotum depressed al

Pristiphora appendiculata

Tenthredinidae

"A rather common sawfly on currant and distinguished from the other currant-feeding species, Nematus ribesii , by lacking black spots on the body. Widespread in North America, and probably an introduction from Europe long ago." [comment by Dave Smith

Pristiphora litura

Tenthredinidae

Identification: Females are variable in color, being partly orange as this to almost all black. Males are mostly black.

Proceratium chickasaw

Formicidae

Identification: second gastric tergite more protruding than in P. pergandei .

Proceratium pergandei

Formicidae

Identification: More strongly protruding second gastric tergite than most US Proceratium, but less so than Proceratium chickasaw .

Prosevania fuscipes

Evaniidae

Introduced from Africa. Native to the Mediterranean.

Protandrena mexicanorum

Andrenidae

They use sonication to gather pollen from Solanaceae.

Proterops abdominalis

Braconidae

Identification: Of eastern species, distinguished from P. proteroptoides by the entirely black head and thorax.

Proterops proteroptoides

Braconidae

Identification: Of eastern species, distinguished from P. abdominalis by the yellow-orange head and thorax with few, albeit large, black spots including on the vertex, scutellum, pleurae, and most of the propodeum (minus a Ʌ-shaped mark). Males may h

Protopelmus atrocaeruleus

Ichneumonidae

Identification: Very large for an ichneumonid wasp. The female is entirely black with metallic blue reflections, while the male has conspicuous pale markings, particularly on the scutellum, legs, T1-T3. ♀ ♂

Pruinose Squash Bee

Peponapis pruinosa

Apidae

Identification: Clypeus protuberant and with a small apical yellow spot in males. Females with widely spaced scopal hairs not hiding integument of tibia. Complete bands of frosty hairs on the abdomen. Male antennae relatively short. Smaller than Xeno

Psammaletes mexicanus

Crabronidae

Specimens from southern locations have considerably more red markings (nearly absent in specimens from NE U.S., execept on legs).

Pseneo punctatus

Crabronidae

Preys on sharpshooters ( Cicadellinae ), and has appeared in California with the incursion of the glassy-winged sharpshooter, Homalodisca vitripennis (formerly H. coagulata ). (based on pers. communication with Doug Yanega; HW; see also reference on

Pseneo simplicicornis

Crabronidae

Identification: Separated from other members of its genus by the following combination of traits: clypeus with silvery vestiture, antennal scapes dark, scutellum punctate, petiole black (rarely with reddish tinge in teneral individuals), legs black w

Pseudoanthidium nanum

Megachilidae

Identification: About the size or a little smaller than Osmia pumila . Discovered in the New World by Sarah Kornbluth in New Jersey and identified by John S. Ascher. Subsequently reported from Maryland and several other states.

Pseudodynerus quadrisectus

Vespidae

Identification: Note two white bands on abdomen, very short petiole between thorax and abdomen, not long, as in Eumenes .

Pseudomalus auratus

Chrysididae

One of several very handsome species within this family, with a ruby red body and blue green thorax and head, the whole having a rather metallic lustre. There are several very similar species and great care is needed when identifying these wasps. Unl

Pseudomasaris basirufus

Vespidae

Identification: Characteristic markings on clypeus but not on frons ( vs white spot on both frons & clypeus in P. maculifrons ) Males are more easily told apart by their antennae, and most reliably by the distance between the eyes on the vertex: nea

Pseudomasaris coquilletti

Vespidae

Identification: In females, the yellow of upper orbits are produced toward ocelli (not so in the similar zonalis ); humeri are more rounded than in zonalis (which have humeri with an obtuse anterior ridge): Antennal segments VI-VII in males are widen

Pseudomasaris edwardsii

Vespidae

Identification: Females have a swelling on the anterior side of mesotibia (reduced/absent in some individuals): Males have unique antennae, and a slight swelling on frons: description (Bradley 1922)

Pseudomasaris macswaini

Vespidae

Identification: Similar to P. edwardsii , but females have yellow spot above the tegula and antennae all black except small yellow spots on scape; in males, antennae mostly black and not concave below

Pseudomasaris marginalis

Vespidae

Identification: Head and thorax with long, black hairs. Black with whitish yellow markings, otherwise mostly black; clypeus, scape, most of the thorax, and abdomen ventrally are black. Has a lamellate propodeum (rather than dentate as in the somewhat

Pseudomasaris texanus

Vespidae

Identification: see Males and females: apex of fore femur, and bases of mid and hind tibiae without yellow spots. Males: eyes separated at the narrowest by about one posterior ocellar diameter.

Pseudomasaris vespoides

Vespidae

Identification: Males: Probably the most common species of Pseudomasaris .

Pseudomasaris wheeleri

Vespidae

Identification: Black, with sulphur-yellow markings, more extensive in southern specimens; mesonotum with two complete or interrupted longitudinal stripes (thoracic and abdominal pattern superficially resembles that of Vespula sulphurea - HW).

Pseudomasaris zonalis

Vespidae

Identification: Females: Color is black and sulphur-yellow (whitish in some forms, especially in the northeastern part of its range), frons with a pale spot above clypeus (may be missing in some specimens). P. zonalis can be recognized by humeri with

Pseudomethoca propinqua

Mutillidae

Identification: male: dorsum of thorax black, vertex and apical margins of the abdominal segments golden, wings dark; female similarly colored

Pseudomyrmex caeciliae

Formicidae

Identification: Similar to P. elongatus but in our region only found in Texas. The two species overlap further south. Seems to be treated as Pseudomyrmex elongatus in

Pseudomyrmex simplex

Formicidae

Identification: Very simply identified among its genus by the orange body and paired black spots on the gaster. Synemosyna petrunkevitchi (Araneae: Salticidae) is a jumping spider that mimics this ant:

Pseudophanerotoma thapsina

Braconidae

Identification: Pseudophanerotoma ID: Forewing RS reaching hind margin; occipital carina complete; head and thorax with fine punctation; two sutures on the abdomen; antennae with more than 23 antennomeres (21 flagellomeres + pedicel & scape). P. thap

Pseudorhyssa nigricornis

Ichneumonidae

Identification: This is the only species in our area with a ridged mesoscutum not within subfamily Rhyssinae . This species can be separated by the larger areolet, "fore wing with vein cu-a joining at the bifurcation of M and Cu", complete occipital

Psorthaspis brimleyi

Pompilidae

Identification: Apparently the only eastern member of the genus where female is mostly dark. Like most other members of this genus, known only from the female. Original description below (Malloch, 1928): Pedinaspis brimleyi , new species. Female. - B

Psorthaspis legata

Pompilidae

Identification: This species has some orange coloration on the head and two cream bands on the third and fourth abdominal segments. Wings banded instead of diffusely darkened. (Nick Fensler)

Psorthaspis mariae

Pompilidae

Identification: See discussion under images. Historical notes. The author of this species is American entomologist Ezra Townsend Cresson (1838-1926). The wasp was no doubt named "mariae" in honor of his wife (married 1859), Mary Ann Ridings Cresson (

Psorthaspis planata

Pompilidae

Formerly a separate species, Psorthaspis morosa is now considered synonymous with Psorthaspis planata . (Evans 1954)

Pterocheilus denticulatus

Vespidae

Identification: Tergum 2 with a pair of scar-like longitudinal spots. Male with ventrally notched mid femur and apically expanded hind femur.

Pterocheilus diversicolor

Vespidae

Identification: Among members of Micropterocheilus (originally described as a subgenus, later elevated to genus in Bohart(1999) but currently treated as a subgenus on BugGuide), Bohart states that for species P. diversicolor : "the orange and white m

Pterocheilus pimorum

Vespidae

Identification: Body almost entirely yellow with blackish or reddish markings

Pugnacious Leafcutter Bee

Megachile pugnata

Megachilidae

Identification: In the female the clypeus is shortened and thickened producing a vertical face.

Pumpkin Gall Wasp

Dryocosmus minusculus

Cynipidae

Identification: From Russo : "This cynipid wasp induces tiny, 1 mm wide, pumpkin-shaped galls on the upper surface of the leaves of coast live, interior live and California black oaks. When fresh in late spring and summer, these monothalamous galls a

Punctate Masked Bee

Hylaeus punctatus

Colletidae

Non-native. First recorded in the US in 1981. (Snelling, 1983)

Purslane sawfly

Schizocerella pilicornis

Argidae

Identification: leaf-mining species; mesonotum mostly black

Pygostolus falcatus

Braconidae

The genus can be recognized at once by the felty setose and flattened mesosternum of females and the distinctive shape of the first metasomal tergite. Antennal segments 30. Female mesosternum, propodeum and metasoma dark, forewing pterostigma infusca

Quebec Mummy Wasp

Aleiodes quebecensis

Braconidae

Identification: Body mostly honey-yellow or light brown Antenna black in basal half, light yellow or white medially, and often black apically hind tarsal segments bright yellow-white or white 45-55 short antennal segments Ocelli large, much larger th

Quebec Sweat Bee

Lasioglossum quebecense

Halictidae

Identification: "this common Lasioglossum species has weak apical and basal hair bands" JSA ( ref. ) "apical hair bands atypical of Lasioglossum but found in that species" JSA ( ref. ) "elongate body and dull scutum" (in males) JSA ( ref. ) "some mal

Raspberry Sawfly

Monophadnoides rubi

Tenthredinidae

Identification: "A number of genera have similar spines, but not so long and branched in M. rubi , the spines on the subspiracular lobe (second row from bottom) have the anterior spine bifurcate and the posterior spine simple; the spines on the surpe

Red Banded Sand Wasp

Ammophila sabulosa

Sphecidae

Ammophila sabulosa is a large (15 to 25 mm long) and striking solitary wasp with a very long narrow "waist" of two segments. The species can be told from A. pubescens (which is smaller, 12 to 20ÿmm long) as the waist widens out very gradually into th

Red Cone Gall Wasp

Feron kingi

Cynipidae

Galls normally cause only minor damage to the host plant

Red Legged Spider Wasp

Episyron rufipes

Pompilidae

A large, robust species with ivory spots on the gaster. Until recently this was the only member of this genus to be found in Britain, but the recent discovery of Episyron gallicum has complicated matters. Females are readily distinguished by having f

Red Mason Bee

Osmia bicornis

Megachilidae

Greyish-brown hair on the thorax and orange-red on the abdomen. The head features two inwardly-curved facial horns below the antennae. The only other British Osmia species with this feature is O. cornuta, which resembles a large black and bright oran

Red Wasp

Vespula rufa

Vespidae

Vespula rufa usually has rufous markings on the first and second abdominal segments (coupled with the pattern of black markings) and these are diagnostic of the species. Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain. No additional images available for th

Red Wood Ant

Formica rufa

Formicidae

Large red and black ant that builds large mound nests in woodland. One of the most conspicuous ant species in Europe.

Red-belted Bumble Bee

Bombus rufocinctus

Apidae

Identification: Those with red on the metasoma are often confused with various Pyrobombus whereas those without can be confused with Bombus bimaculatus and various other species, but in rufocinctus the malar space is exceptionally short. In females w

Red-headed Pine Sawfly

Neodiprion lecontei

Diprionidae

Identification: Det. Tony DeSantis, 2013 Closterocerus cinctipennis is a parasite of eggs. Spathimeigenia aurifrons parasitizes larvae. Dahlbominus fuscipennis , a European parasite, as been found in infested stands in TN, ALA, NY, MICH.

Red-tailed Blood Bee

Sphecodes rubicundus

Halictidae

A strikingly large Sphecodes. Male has knobbly antennae, (13 segments). Antennae not obviously compressed, and with fairly narrow zones of pubescence. It has a greater area of red in the body than males of other large Sphecodes species. Care is neede

Red-tailed Bumblebee

Bombus lapidarius

Apidae

Lengths queen 20-22 mm, workers 11-16 mm, male 14-16 mm. Bombus lapidarius is probably the most easily recognised bumblebee species, with its black body and bright orange tail. The workers have the same colouring as the queen but are much smaller. Th

Rhogogaster nr-viridis

Tenthredinidae

Identification: Separated from R. californica as follows: Head with frontal groove much shallower than antennal groove; antennal crests aligned with raised edge of frontal area. ( 3 )

Rhynchophion flammipennis

Ichneumonidae

Identification: Body black, wings strongly orange with black at the apex and base, antennae variably yellow to black. Probably a mimic of certain Pepsini (tarantula-hawk wasps and allies)

Rhynchophion woodi

Ichneumonidae

Identification: Body reddish-brown, wings orange with black at the apex and base, antennae yellowish-brown Suggested to potentially be a mimic of Polistes canadensis :

Rhyssa alaskensis

Ichneumonidae

Identification: the only Rhyssa with the posterior orbits (area directly behind the eyes) entirely black, vs markings there ―see figs. from Townes (1960) . Original description

Rhyssa crevieri

Ichneumonidae

Identification: Rhyssa crevieri is one of only two rhyssine species in our area with white bands on the antennae. It lacks a white dorsobasal spot on the hind coxae (the ground color is dark). The metapleuron has a smaller, notched-to-"triangular" wh

Rhyssa howdenorum

Ichneumonidae

Identification: Rhyssa howdenorum is the only eastern member of its genus with a banded rather than spotted abdomen.

Rhyssa lineolata

Ichneumonidae

Identification: Rhyssa lineolata is one of only two rhyssine species in our area with white bands on the antennae. It additionally has a white dorsobasal spot on the hind coxae (the ground color is often orange but may be darker). The metapleuron has

Rhyssa ponderosae

Ichneumonidae

Identification: Rhyssa ponderosae is the only western species with the hind coxae entirely black. It also has more reduced spots on the abdomen.

Rhyssella humida

Ichneumonidae

Identification: Identified as Rhyssinae by the ridged mesoscutum and lack of anterolateral grooves on T2 of the abdomen and as Rhyssella by the smaller size, lack of a median tooth on the clypeus, basal fusing of the first sternite and tergite, gener

Rhyssella nitida

Ichneumonidae

Ribbed bud gall

Callirhytis quercusgemmaria

Cynipidae

Causes detachable stem galls on "all the red oaks." Typical galls look like this; they secrete honeydew and drop to the ground when mature: Galls containing "guests" do not drop. They enlarge and become woody, remaining on the tree over the winter. T

Rough Harvester Ant

Pogonomyrmex rugosus

Formicidae

Identification: Color and size is distinctive in range except for the dark morph of Veromessor andrei , but Pogonomyrmex has a continuous mesonotal profile (one hump) and Veromessor has an impressed metanotal groove (two humps). This species hybridiz

Rough-node Snapping Ant

Odontomachus ruginodis

Formicidae

Identification: I would rather lean for the very similar O. ruginodis (introduced, and now more common than O. brunneus ). 1st dorsal segment of the gaster appears to be shining, hairless or almost so, while O. brunneus is hairy and has a distinct wo

Round Bullet Gall Wasp

Disholcaspis quercusglobulus

Cynipidae

Forms round, detachable twig galls, 8-15 mm in diameter, singly or in small clusters, on white oak ( Quercus alba ).

Rubicundiella annulicornis

Ichneumonidae

Identification: Males are readily distinguished from all other members of the genus by the combination of a white annulus on the flagellum and ferruginous scutellum.

Rubicundiella mucronata

Ichneumonidae

Identification: Males are readily distinguished from all other members of the genus by the combination of a white annulus on the flagellum and yellow-white scutellum.

Rusty Spider Wasp

Tachypompilus ferrugineus

Pompilidae

Identification: Subspecies are noted as follows based on the extent of black markings:

Rusty Willow Sawfly

Cimbex rubidus

Cimbicidae

Identification: Thick reddish/brown body, wings glossy black; female with yellow spot at the base of abdomen

Rusty-patched Bumble Bee

Bombus affinis

Apidae

Identification: Queens have a similar color pattern to B. vagans , with a yellow thorax and yellow T1 and T2 but in affinis the face and malar is much shorter, the hairs of the face are all black, and the coat is shorter and more uniform in length. W

Sabre Wasp

Rhyssa persuasoria

Ichneumonidae

Sometimes called the Giant Ichneumon, this is the largest ichneumon in Britain and one of the largest in Europe (10–40 mm). An easy species to identify due to the striking pattern of small white spots along the entire length of the thin, black body (

Saddleback Scoliid Wasp

Pygodasis ephippium

Scoliidae

Identification: A large, black scoliid with two broad orange bands on the abdomen. The body setae are black, unlike the orange-marked Dielis (female D. dorsata and D. tolteca ). Unlike most of our campsomerine species, the male has the same color pat

Saint Hyacinth Mummy Wasp

Aleiodes sanctihyacinthi

Braconidae

Identification: Body orange and black, eye posteriorly margined with orange, 46-48 antennal segments, top of head with rough sculpturing , fourth metasomal tergite with fine granular sculpture.

Sand Tailed Digger Wasp

Cerceris arenaria

Crabronidae

A large species similar in size and markings to the Bee Wolf (Philanthus triangulum). Most solitary bees and wasps are difficult to identify, and can rarely be identified from photos taken in the field. All red-rated records should include a photo or

Sandhills Cellophane Bee

Colletes ultravalidus

Colletidae

Identification: Has the longest malar space of any North American Colletes, exceeding that of its sister species Colletes validus. Overall it resembles C. validus, but its thoracic hair is more orange (closer to thoracicus) and it lacks conspicuous t

Sanwald's Amazon ant 0

Polyergus sanwaldi

Formicidae

Identification: Dull integument, numerous stout dark bristle on rear margin of head, in mixed species colonies with host Formica dolosa . This ant is quite similar in appearance to the southern species P. longicornis , distinguished morphologically b

Sapyga centrata

Sapygidae

Identification: Head: Black, rough textured. Inner eye indented (emarginate) with yellow margin. Yellow dash on back eye margin. Yellow triangle above and between antenna bases on male. Mouth (clypeus) with yellow marks. Mandibles black with a yellow

Sapyga quinquepunctata

Sapygidae

The quinquepunctata part of the scientific name probably refers to the white spotting on the tergites. The species is sexually dimorphic the males being mainly black other than the white spots mentioned above, but the females have a broad red band ac

Sausage Flower Gall Wasp

Melikaiella congregata

Cynipidae

Identification: Larvae induce sausage-like catkin galls on Quercus agrifolia (coast live oak) in the spring. Gall is known to produce honeydew

Scarlet Oak Sawfly

Caliroa quercuscoccinae

Tenthredinidae

Identification: Larvae are slug like. Adults black with yellowish legs.

Scelio opacus

Scelionidae

Most abundant and widespread species of Nearctic Scelio .

Sclerogibba talpiformis

Sclerogibbidae

Identification: Reddish fore-body, longitudinal furrow on propodeum, lack of a longitudinal furrow on the pronotum, widely separated lateral ocelli, and complete notauli.

Scolia guttata

Scoliidae

Adults were observed on several occasions flying around over the nests of Atta texana ; two were seen to enter ant nests. Scoliid cocoons were found among the material from which Cotinis larvae were taken, a likely host of S. guttata .

Sculptured Resin Bee

Megachile sculpturalis

Megachilidae

Identification: body cylindrical, 14-24 mm in length (longer than most bees in NA), females usually larger than males; head and abdomen black, thorax covered with dense yellowish-brown hairs, wings dark but transparent Mangum & Bambara They are oppor

Setanta compta

Ichneumonidae

Identification: Females have white bands on the antennae and often narrower yellow bands on the abdomen while males have entirely black antennae and often wider yellow bands on the abdomen. ( 3 ) The subspecies have historically been identified as fo

Setanta parsimonica

Ichneumonidae

Identification: Very similar to S. compta . "The main difference is the females have a predominantly yellow mesosoma (black in S. compta) and the basal part of the antenna is reddish-brown." - Brandon Claridge

Sharp-collared Furrow Bee

Lasioglossum malachurum

Halictidae

This is one of the larger Lasioglossum species in Britain, and the distinctive right-angled front corners of the pronotum are easily seen under the microscope. Most solitary bees and wasps are difficult to identify, and can rarely be identified from

Shiny-vented Sharp-tail Bee

Coelioxys inermis

Megachilidae

One of three Coelioxys species with similar tips to the female's sternite 6 (two sharp teeth on either side near apex). Females are more easily determined than males and can be separated from female C. mandibularis by the shape of the mandibles; from

Short-horned Yellow-face Bee

Hylaeus brevicornis

Colletidae

A very small and mainly black bee. The male has a striking white face (this characteristic is not restricted solely to this species) and the hind legs are banded with black and creamy yellow. The female has paired white spots on the face. Most solit

Sickle-jawed Blood Bee

Sphecodes puncticeps

Halictidae

A stout, small Sphecodes, with a median groove at the front of the thorax. It is very similar to other Sphecodes species and care is needed with identification. Most solitary bees and wasps are difficult to identify, and can rarely be identified from

Silky Striped Sweat Bee

Agapostemon sericeus

Halictidae

Identification: Rugose scutum See remarks. "Only 4 Agapostemon species in Ontario. A. sericeus has the roughest thorax and three white hair bands on abdomen, the second hair band is usually wider. Dark legs with the longest golden hair. A. splendens

Simophion excarinatus

Ichneumonidae

Identification: Clypeus concavely truncate, more than twice as broad as long. Posterior tangent of eyes bisecting posterior ocelli. Mostly dark brown but the orbits so broadly yellowish white as to make the head appear largely of that color

Sirex longicauda

Siricidae

Identification: Female: body black with metallic blue or green reflections; wings clear; legs with coxae and femora black, tibiae and tarsi reddish; second hind tarsomere elongate (unique to this species and S. areolatus ); ovipositor long with apica

Sitka Bumble Bee

Bombus sitkensis

Apidae

Identification: Very similar to the sympatric dimidiatus form of B. flavifrons but with a darker scutellum and a conspicuous buff tip to the abdominal apex. More common in the northern part of its range, such as Washington State, than in the southern

Six-Spotted Carpenter Ant

Camponotus sexguttatus

Formicidae

Identification: The dark reddish brown to blackish color, abundant whitish erect setae, and cream colored lateral spots on at least tergite 2 are unique among the North American Camponotus . Natural range is Argentina to Central America. Florida popu