Granular Mummy Wasp
Aleiodes granulatus
This record describes Aleiodes granulatus (species). Recorded family: Braconidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | At least head, pronotum and mesonotum black, mesosoma sometimes entirely black, mesopleuron and propodeum sometimes orange, antenna and mouthparts yellow. Metasoma with top of first segment orange, black, or bicolored (black basally, orange apically), second and third tergites orange, and the rest black. |
| Legs | Legs orange, except apical half of hind femur nearly always black and sometimes tibia black. Antenna with 45-50 segments. |
| Pronotum | Pronotum long , median length greater than distance between lateral ocellus and eye. Metsomal tergites 1-4 with longitudinal ridges. This species is in the Aleiodes procerus species group. |
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Ichneumonoidea
- Family
- Braconidae (Braconid Wasps)
- Subfamily
- Rogadinae
- Genus
- Aleiodes (Common Mummy Wasps)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Eastern Canada and.eastern U.S., from New Brunswick south to North Carolina and west to Wisconsin and Ohio.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: host unknown
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Extensive granular microsculpture on head and mesosoma.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Aleiodes granulatus. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Granular Mummy Wasp
What is Granular Mummy Wasp?
Granular Mummy Wasp (Aleiodes granulatus) is a species in the family Braconidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Granular Mummy Wasp?
4.5 - 5.0 mm
How do you identify Granular Mummy Wasp?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | At least head, pronotum and mesonotum black, mesosoma sometimes entirely black, mesopleuron and propodeum sometimes orange, antenna and mouthparts yellow. Metasoma with top of first segment orange, black, or bicolored (black basally, orange apically), second and third tergites orange, and the rest black. |
| Legs | Legs orange, except apical half of hind femur nearly always black and sometimes tibia black. Antenna with 45-50 segments. |
| Pronotum | Pronotum long , median length greater than distance between lateral ocellus and eye. Metsomal tergites 1-4 with longitudinal ridges. |
Where is Granular Mummy Wasp found?
Range: Eastern Canada and.eastern U.S., from New Brunswick south to North Carolina and west to Wisconsin and Ohio.
What does Granular Mummy Wasp eat?
The diet of the Granular Mummy Wasp includes host unknown.