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)

Andricus coconinoensis

Cynipidae

Identification: Induces smooth, glabrous bud galls on Quercus turbinella and oblongifolia, and maybe other species of southwestern oaks.

Andricus foliaformis

Cynipidae

Causes bract-bearing midrib swellings, containing 1-6 cells, in leaves of the white oak group. Originally described from white oak ( Quercus alba ); the holotype and gall are lost. The description of adult and gall agree with Andricus foliosus Weld,

Andricus incertus

Cynipidae

Forms fringed galls on acorns of swamp white oak ( Quercus bicolor ). "Galls drop in early Sept. and adults emerged the second and third springs in late March and April. A similar gall occurs on nine other white oaks where the recess in the cup is no

Andricus pattoni

Druon pattoni

Cynipidae

Galls similar to those of Andricus quercusflocci , but on post oak ( Quercus stellata ), sand/dwarf post oak ( Q. margaretta ), and shallow-lobed oak ( Q. breviloba ).

Andricus pilularis

Cynipidae

Identification: Induces leaf galls on Quercus arizonica, gambelli, oblongifolia, rugosa, toumeyi, and turbinella. They are small and integral to the leaf, with the bottom half of the gall protruding on the ventral side of the leaf. The gall causes th

Andricus quercusflocci

Druon quercusflocci

Cynipidae

Forms galls on leaves of white ( Quercus alba ) and chestnut ( Q. prinus ) oaks: "Woolly, dirty white, of 2-10 seed-like bodies attached by one end on midrib on upper or lower side, in fall."

Andricus quercusfrondosus

Cynipidae

Galls are "globular, smooth, surrounded by bracts which persist and enlarge after gall drops in June. . . Galls attacked by guests [inquilines] do not drop, the bud scales enlarge and this 'frondosa' mass is conspicuous in winter but yields only gues

Andricus quercusstrobilanus

Cynipidae

Identification: Larvae induce a cluster of wedge-shaped galls on on Quercus bicolor, macrocarpa, and lyrata . The galls are green or red/pink when they are young and turn brown as they get older.

Andricus reticulatus

Cynipidae

Identification: Induces integral petiole galls on Quercus ajoensis, arizonica, dumosa, engelmannii, gambelli, oblongifolia, rugosa, toumeyi, and turbinella. These galls are brown and covered rather sparsely with short white hairs. They consume the le

Andricus sulfureus

Feron sulfureum

Cynipidae

Identification: Forms detachable leaf galls on Quercus arizonica and Q. oblongifolia .

Andricus wheeleri

Cynipidae

Identification: This species induces large, lobed, integral stem galls on Quercus arizonica, onlongifolia, toumeyi, and turbinella. These galls are green when fresh and turn brown when older. They can have a pink hue as well. They are very abrupt on

Aneugmenus flavipes

Tenthredinidae

Identification: Fairly readily identifiable by the combination of black body apart from entirely yellow legs and yellow "shoulders".

Anochetus mayri

Formicidae

Identification: Back of head lacking dark apophyseal lines

Anomalon picticorne

Ichneumonidae

Identification: Distinctive among the Anomalonini in having a white band (annulus) on the antennae. See Viereck, 1912, for full description of female in Print References below.

Anoplius aethiops

Pompilidae

A. aethiops visits flowers while A. cleora RARELY does. Soil type is also significant. A. cleora is almost completely restricted to very sandy soil and A. aethiops is not. Note by Nick Fensler

Anoplius depressipes

Pompilidae

Transports its spider prey (usually Dolomedes) across the water's surface. They would be expected to be found near water.

Anoplius nigerrimus

Pompilidae

Up to 11mm length. Third submarginal cell almost triangular; comb spines of inferior row on fore basitarsus longer than those of superior row; erect hairs of thorax fine, short, with a few fine hairs on propodeum; largely with dark pubescence. The co

Anoplius toluca

Pompilidae

Identification: Females are difficult or impossible to separate from its sister species, A. dreisbachi . When viewed laterally, the hair brushes on the 4th and 5th sternum appear continuous in A. dreisbachi but separated in A. toluca . In California

Anthidiellum ehrhorni

Megachilidae

Identification: marked with a pale cream to bright yellow pattern on black

Anthidium banningense

Megachilidae

Identification: Females - T6 with long, acute lateral angle and terga densely punctate.

Anthidium emarginatum

Megachilidae

A discussion of " Anthidium emarginatum , its Life-history and Parasites" appears in Davison(1895) .

Anthidium florentinum

Megachilidae

Identification: Very similar to A. manicatum in size and coloration. Considered an efficient pollinator of alfalfa.

Anthidium illustre

Megachilidae

Identification: T-VII of males with a short, blunt center spine (Grigarick & Stange):

Anthophora curta

Apidae

Has been considered conspecific with A. squammulosa but now recognized as distinct based on a study by Michael Orr and colleagues of BBSL.

Anthophora marginata

Apidae

Identification: Cream not pure white apical margins to terga; grizzled black and gray thoracic hairs

Anthophorula albicans

Apidae

This page was set up based on examination of one female specimen, depicted below:

Anthophorula completa

Apidae

Probably the most common exomalopsine apid in Texas. (John L. Neff, Central Texas Melittological Institute, pers. comm., 2011)

Apechthis compunctor

Ichneumonidae

A small to medium (7 to 15 mm) black bodied species. It has orange legs without cream banding on the hind tibia. Similar to Pimpla rufipes but in Apechthis compunctor the female ovipositor has a downward curved tip. Photographs required showing the t

Apechthis rufata

Ichneumonidae

Length up to 15 mm. Quite a striking ichneumon, although there are similar species and expert help is needed with identification. Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required and the specimen should be examined with a microscope. In

Aphaenogaster N22b

Aphaenogaster undescribed-near-rudis

Formicidae

This page is for the undescribed species labeled as "Aphaenogaster N22b" in Dr. Gary Umphrey's 1996 paper on the fulva-rudis-texana complex. Aphaenogaster N22b is similar to Aphaenogaster rudis, but paler and nesting in rocky outcroppings, bluffs, pr

Aphaenogaster ashmeadi

Formicidae

Identification: Most similar to A. treatae but the lobe at the base of scape takes up 1/5 or less of the scape in ashmeadi and 1/4 of the scape in treatae. Both species are arenicolous but A. ashmeadi is relatively constricted to the southeastern Uni

Aphaenogaster boulderensis

Formicidae

Identification: concolor, otherwise similar to A. smithi (bicolored)

Aphaenogaster carolinensis

Formicidae

Identification: Typical color pattern is red-brown with yellow legs

Aphaenogaster mariae

Formicidae

Identification: Striations fanning out from the base of the gaster:

Aphaenogaster treatae

Formicidae

Identification: Large, flat lobe at base of scape of antenna.

Aphelinus asychis

Aphelinidae

A tiny, stocky parasitoid wasp, typically measuring around 0.9 -1.2 mm in length. Typically has a dark brown to black head and thorax. The abdomen is typically yellow, sometimes darkening toward the tip in males. Submarginal vein with only two setae.

Aphelopus rufiventris

Dryinidae

Identification: Distinguished from other Nearctic Aphelopus by having indistinct or absent notauli.

Aphilanthops frigidus

Crabronidae

Identification: Males and females similar. Marks, stripes and spots can be either yellow or white. Head: Black with 3 wide yellow stripes: one each along inner eye margin, and one median stripe. Median stripe progressively narrows beyond antenna base

Aporinellus taeniolatus

Pompilidae

Identification: In all the currently existing keys, two principal characters are cited for separating taeniolatus from all other species in the genus: 1) The 2nd submarginal cell is relatively small...less than twice as wide as high (cf. Fig. 245 her

Appleworm Mummy Wasp

Aleiodes nolophanae

Braconidae

Similar to Aleiodes laphygmae . Differs from that species in 39-45 antennal segments, as opposed to 35-39 in A. laphygmae ; females are larger (5-6 mm rather than 4-5 mm in A. laphygmae ); radial cell and basal portion of stigma forming a smaller ang

Apsilops hirtifrons

Ichneumonidae

Per Judd, 1953: " Apsilops hirtifrons (Ashm.).-One wasp emerged in Cage 4 on August 9. Hart (1896), referring to the species as Cryptus cyaneiventris Riley, reports that in Illinois it was common in July on floating leaves of Potamogeton natans , ass

Aptesis nigrocincta

Ichneumonidae

Length 3 to 8 mm. Females are significantly smaller than males and nearly wingless. A distinctive ichneumon, the abdomen and legs are orange, the abdomen has a broad black band. Unless identified by a recognised expert, photos are required from above

Arachnospila arcta

Pompilidae

Identification: The genus Arachnospila is most similar to Anoplius , but they lack strong bristles on the pygidium. However, of all of the genera split from Pompilus , Arachnospila is perhaps the most closely related to Anoplius . This species is ver

Arctic Aerial Yellowjacket

Dolichovespula albida

Vespidae

Identification: Queen (♀♀) Worker (♀) Male (♂) The markings of D. albida are very akin to those of D. norvegicoides apart from being ivory instead of yellow.

Arge abdominalis

Argidae

Identification: Adult all black with contrasting red abdomen

Arge onerosa

Argidae

Identification: "Only Arge I know of with yellow antennae, abdomen, and legs." --Dave Smith

Argentine Ant

Linepithema humile

Formicidae

Identification: worker usually uniformly light to medium brown (can seem almost black if not viewed up close); body slender; head oval to triangular-shaped; mandibles with two large apical teeth followed by series of denticles; alitrunk dorsum normal

Argogorytes fargeii

Crabronidae

The scarcer and smaller of our two Argogorytes wasps, but seemingly with a similar biology to A. mystaceus. It is black and yellow banded and care is needed with identification due to similarity with other species. Most solitary bees and wasps are di

Argogorytes mystaceus

Crabronidae

Argogorytes mystaceus is a sand wasp, the male has unusually long antennae for this genus; the female has a short comb. The 1st abdominal segment is almost semi-circular. Most solitary bees and wasps are difficult to identify, and can rarely be ident

Aridelus nigrithorax

Braconidae

Identification: Black thorax is diagnostic for the species. (Scott Shaw, pers. comm.)

Aritranis director

Ichneumonidae

Length up to 10 mm. The head and thorax are black. The bulk of the abdomen is orange-red but the final part is black. The female also has a small white band at the tip of the abdomen, immediately before the ovipositor. Unless identified by a recognis

Arotes melleus

Ichneumonidae

Identification: The female is largely ferrugineous with stramineous markings on the scutellum, postscutellum, trochanters, tibial bases, tarsi, underneath of the pedicel, and subgenital plate. The wings are hyaline with a black stigma and a broadly c

Arthrolytus fasciatus

Pteromalidae

Identification: Distinguished from the other known North American Arthrotylus by range (Eastern) and dark area on wing of female. Biology is unknown but the other North American species, and some European species, are found in galls of Cynipidae on o

Asaphes suspensus

Trichogrammatidae

Identification: Can be determined from other Asaphes species by the all-yellow legs (G. Gibson, personal comm.)

Asaphes vulgaris

Pteromalidae

Length 1.5-2mm. Typically dark, metallic greenish-black sheen across the head and thorax. The petiole ("waist") is longer than broad and obvious from above. Antennae elbowed (geniculate) antennae, with 13 segments including 2 ring segments. Genae bor

Asian Mud-dauber Wasp

Sceliphron curvatum

Sphecidae

Identification: According to Christian Schmid-Egger (Aug 12, 2019: pers. comm. to Matthias Buck), the photos on BugGuide clearly show S. curvatum , not S. deforme (up to this point there was doubt about the species). Schmid-Egger (2005) provides a ke

Asthenolabus vitratorius

Ichneumonidae

A red and black nocturnal wasp with long antennae typical of members of the Platylabini tribe. The red abdomen darkens towards the tip and finishes with white tailstripes which may also be helpful in determining species. Several other members of the

Atanycolus cappaerti

Braconidae

Identification: Head and thorax jet black, abdomen bright red with a pink venter. The related, non-native A. hicoriae has very similar coloration (though with the venter of the metasoma yellow to yellowish red). A. cappaerti also has several of the a

Atrusca brevipennata

Cynipidae

Identification: Induces sphere shaped oak-apple galls on leaves of Quercus turbinella, grisea, gambelli, and Quercus x undulata. The galls are usually light yellow with red vein-like stripes running vertical from the top of the gall. The similar Atru

Atrusca capronae

Cynipidae

Identification: Galls have thin, pale outer layer with purple or red stripes. Larval chamber floats in the center of the gall, attached to out layer by many radiating fibers.

Atrusca cubitalis

Cynipidae

This short-winged species, cubitalis, is the producer of all the oak apples found in Colorado west of the Continental Divide. There is no species of the Atrusca bella complex in that area. On the eastern slopes of the Colorado Rockies oak climbs hard

Augochloropsis metallica

Halictidae

Identification: Green metallic tegulae; the posterior inner margins project inward. Typical halictine mouthparts: long prementum and short tongue and labial palpi

Augochloropsis viridula

Halictidae

May prove to be specifically distinct. Treated her as a putative subspecies for purposes of sorting images, pending improved documentation of the status of this genus in North America.

Aulacidea hieracii

Cynipidae

The larvae of the Cynipid gall wasp Aulacidea hieracii gall the stems of Hieracium species. The galls are rounded swellings up to 4 cm long. The part of the plant above the gall is usually strongly suppressed. The gall may be smooth, but can also be

Aulacidea podagrae

Cynipidae

Identification: best recognized by galls rather than adult wasps. Galls occur on Lactuca canadensis on the stems.

Aulacus burquei

Aulacidae

Identification: Apparently the only uniformly orange Aulacus in the eastern US. Parasitic on various Xiphydria species.

Aulogymnus io

Eulophidae

Identification: Dark colored, shining metallic on thorax, with extensive yellow markings including a narrow strip behind the ocelli. Two funicular segments, clava about twice as long as wide. Forewing with diffuse dark spot.

Auplopus carbonarius

Pompilidae

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 set of photos of the specimen, illustrating the key characters taken from a standard

Azalea Miner Bee

Andrena cornelli

Andrenidae

Identification: A female Andrena in the eastern United States carrying Rhododendron pollen will very likely prove to be this species. The widely spaced scopal hairs of the hind leg are distinctive.

Bahamian Paper Wasp

Polistes bahamensis

Vespidae

Identification: As typical of members of the subgenus Polistes (Aphanilopterus) , the first metasomal segment is slender and slightly elongate, and the antennae are dark with contrasting orange tips. The species has a yellow spot on the mesopleuron,

Balcha indica

Eupelmidae

Identification: lateral habitus Its possible use as biocontrol of the emerald ash borer is being studied. "Although males are known from the Old World only females have been recovered in North America, indicating a parthenogenetic form was introduced

Balsam Fir Sawfly

Neodiprion abietis

Diprionidae

Identification: Full-grown larvae are dark green, about 18-25mm long. The head is black and the body is marked with 6 longitudinal dark stripes or bands on the back, the lowest one may be broken up with small dots or spots. The introduced parasite, D

Balsam Shootboring Sawfly

Pleroneura bruneicornis

Xyelidae

Damage resembles frost damage, but affected areas pull away easily, revealing larvae or tunnels inside. Damage most visible in summer (June). Prefers young trees under 2 m; potentially damaging to Christmas tree farms. Damage does not kill trees.

Banded Bullet Gall Wasp

Kokkocynips imbricariae

Cynipidae

Causes galls on twigs of the red oak group: "Globose, hard, brown or mottled light and dark green, twig galls, diameter 1/4 to nearly 1/2 inch, occurring several together in fissures, on scarlet, black, black jack, blue jack, turkey, pin, willow, shi

Bare-saddled Blood Bee

Sphecodes ephippius

Halictidae

Similar to several other Sphecodes species and care is needed with the identification. 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 o

Barrel Cactus Goblin Bee

Macrotera echinocacti

Andrenidae

a member of the subg. Macroteropsis (6 spp., all in our area )

Baryceros candidus

Ichneumonidae

Identification: Our only member of Baryceros with a red abdomen. The white band on the antenna is interrupted below, the coxae and trochanters are white with the fore- and mid- coxae with dark basal and apical marks and the white mark of the hind cox

Barylypa propugnator

Ichneumonidae

13 to 20 mm. Fairly large orange and black Ichneumon. Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required. If the photo doesn't show the key ID features then in the comments box describe the size and identifying characters you have observed

Bathyplectes curculionis

Ichneumonidae

A Paleartic species introduced in NA in 1911 to control Hypera postica , the alfalfa [leaf] weevil and Hypera brunnipennis Egyptian alfalfa weevil.

Bathyplectes infernalis

Ichneumonidae

Like its host, the clover leaf weevil, this species is a European immigrant. Although it is generally thelytokous (i.e. females only), I have seen males from NJ, PA, MD, and VA. Males are perhaps even rarer in Europe because in a 1974 revision of t

Beaked Spindle Gall Wasp

Heteroecus pacificus

Cynipidae

Lyon(1963) noted that the presence of inquilines (e.g. Synergus sp. ) usually deforms the shape of the summer generation galls into a more blunt & swollen-tipped form (e.g. see here and here )...whereas galls free of inquilines typically retain a nar

Beaked Twig Gall Wasp

Burnettweldia plumbella

Cynipidae

Identification: Larvae make galls in the late spring and summer on blue ( Quercus douglasii ), scrub ( Q. berberidifolia ), shrub live ( Q. turbinella ), and leather ( Q. durata ) oaks. Galls are up to 15mm in diameter and are red or green with yello

Bedeguar Gall Wasp

Diplolepis rosae

Cynipidae

The female insects are about 4 mm long; parts of their abdomens and legs are an amber/chestnut colour, while the rest of the body is black. The male (length of about 3 mm) is very rare. It is black and its legs are bi-coloured. The gall is more likel

Bee Wolf

Philanthus triangulum

Crabronidae

The Bee Wolf is one of the largest (up to 17 mm) and most spectacular solitary wasp species in Britain. It can be distinguished by the unfolded wings and thickened antennae. The abdomen and face are extensively yellow and the back of the head behind

Belonocnema fossoria

Cynipidae

Identification: Spur on the anterior side of fore tibia longer than basitarsus and tibial spurs. Middle tibia with a smaller spur. Found on Quercus geminata in Georgia and Florida . Similar galls in Georgia/Florida could be from this species (exclusi

Belonocnema kinseyi

Cynipidae

Identification: Spur on the anterior side of fore tibia shorter than basitarsus, approximately the same length as tibial spurs. Middle tibia without a spur. Asexual generation (Antennae with 14 in females or 15 in males with F1 excavated segments) sc

Belonocnema treatae

Cynipidae

Bembecinus quinquespinosus

Crabronidae

Identification: Males are highly variable and can range from largely pale to mostly black: Females are always dark

Bicolored Crown Wasp

Megischus bicolor

Stephanidae

Identification: Reported to have two morphs, previously described as subspecies: "one with head and pronotum ferrugineous ( M. b. bicolor ) and another uniformly brown or blackish ( M. b. sickmanni )" ( Stephanid home page -Alexandre Pires Aguiar) vs

Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee

Agapostemon virescens

Halictidae

Identification: Males: Hind femora slender, fully three times as long as the greatest width. Females: Abdomen black, with pale basal fasciae.

Bicyrtes variegatus

Crabronidae

Identification: Scutum with long pale spots. Scutellar spots closely approximated anteriorly. Xanthic B. quadrifasciatus can be similar but have spots on tergum 5 more separated.

Bicyrtes viduatus

Crabronidae

Identification: Submarginal cell 1 conspicuously clouded, wings otherwise largely clear.

Birch Sawfly

Arge pectoralis

Argidae

Identification: Adult is said to be blue-black with white markings on legs (Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station) the most commonly encountered argid ( 3 )

Black Imported Fire Ant

Solenopsis richteri

Formicidae

Introduced from South America, probably Argentina, sometime near 1918. A hybrid of this and S. invicta (also introduced) is becoming very common and displacing this species.

Black-and-White Mason Wasp

Euodynerus leucomelas

Vespidae

Identification: It has a white band on the metanotum and a black scutellum

Black-and-gold Bumble Bee

Bombus auricomus

Apidae

Identification: Mullerian mimic of B. pensylvanicus . Note the following: See detailed descriptions Males with large eyes strongly convergent above and modified antennae. This species is variable in hair color with dark females readily confused with

Black-and-red Horntail Wasp

Urocerus cressoni

Siricidae

Identification: head, thorax and wings black, abdomen red (amount of red variable), two pale spots behind the eyes, antennae black with white tips

Black-headed Pine Sawfly

Neodiprion excitans

Diprionidae

Egg laying begins in March with eggs inserted in slits cut near the base of needles. Needles closest to the tips of exposed shoots are chosen during spring and fall, whereas needles on shaded shoots are chosen during hot weather. Newly-hatched larvae

Black-horned Nomad Bee

Nomada rufipes

Apidae

This is a medium-sized bee which is yellow and black, although some females may be red, yellow and black. For further details see the ‘Further info:’ links below. Most solitary bees and wasps are difficult to identify, and can rarely be identified fr

Blackberry Knot Gall Wasp

Diastrophus nebulosus

Cynipidae

Induces galls in blackberry stems: "Rounded or long stem swellings, sometimes with 4 or 5 deep longitudinal furrows, length 2 to 6 inches." Parasitoids include this eurytomid: