Acroricnus stylator
This record describes Acroricnus stylator (species). Recorded family: Ichneumonidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Overview of Subspecies Subspecies are separated as follows: 1. A. s. aequatus : Hind femur black, hind tibia entirely yellow. Propodeum, metapleurum, hind coxae, and scutellum either black or yellow. 2. A. s. edwardsii : Abdomen prominently yellow, wings yellow-tinged. Flagellum ground color fulvous. Legs mostly yellow. 3. A. s. excelsus : Hind femur fulvous or black, hind tibia yellow with dark apex. Propodeum, metapleurum, and/or hind coxae yellow-marked. 4. A. s. niger : Hind femur black, hind tibia yellow with dark apex. Propodeum, metapleurum, and hind coxae black. 5. A. s. stylator : Hind femur entirely fulvous, hind tibia yellow with dark apex. Propodeum, metapleurum, and hind coxae black. 6. A. s. townesi : Hind femur fulvous at base, hind tibia entirely yellow. The amount of yellow on the male propodeum tends to increase from north to south in eastern North America and two broadly overlapping subspecies have been recognized in eastern North America. - Bob Carlson
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Ichneumonoidea
- Family
- Ichneumonidae (Ichneumonid Wasps)
- Subfamily
- Cryptinae
- Tribe
- Cryptini
- Genus
- Acroricnus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Holarctic
Diet and Behavior
Diet: "Parasite of wasps that build mud nests, including Ancistrocerus, Eumenes , and Sceliphron ." - Bob Carlson
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Acroricnus stylator. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
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).
Ecological role of the group
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.
Economic and practical significance of the group
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.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Acroricnus stylator (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Acroricnus stylator
What is Acroricnus stylator?
Acroricnus stylator is a species in the family Ichneumonidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Acroricnus stylator?
Overview of Subspecies Subspecies are separated as follows: 1. A. s. aequatus : Hind femur black, hind tibia entirely yellow. Propodeum, metapleurum, hind coxae, and scutellum either black or yellow. 2. A. s. edwardsii : Abdomen prominently yellow, wings yellow-tinged. Flagellum ground color fulvous. Legs mostly yellow. 3. A. s. excelsus : Hind femur fulvous or black, hind tibia yellow with dark apex. Propodeum, metapleurum, and/or hind coxae yellow-marked. 4. A. s. niger : Hind femur black, hind tibia yellow with dark apex. Propodeum, metapleurum, and hind coxae black. 5. A. s. stylator : Hind femur entirely fulvous, hind tibia yellow with dark apex. Propodeum, metapleurum, and hind coxae black. 6. A. s. townesi : Hind femur fulvous at base, hind tibia entirely yellow.
Where is Acroricnus stylator found?
Range: Holarctic
What does Acroricnus stylator eat?
The diet of the Acroricnus stylator includes Parasite of wasps that build mud nests, including Ancistrocerus, Eumenes , and Sceliphron . - Bob Carlson.