Terminal Mummy Wasp
Aleiodes terminalis
This record describes Aleiodes terminalis (species). Recorded family: Braconidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Body 2-colored, orange and black. T1-2 orange with following segments black. Ocelli small, distance between eye and lateral ocellus about equal to ocellus width. Hind tibia black with light yellowish-white band on basal third. Hind tarsomeres black. Tarsal claws not pectinate. It and our other members of the unipunctator species-group can be distinguished from many similarly colored species in other species-groups by the pale band on the hind tibia. A. parasiticus has superficial coloration, except the anterior of the mesosoma is red instead of entirely black.
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
Across the Nearctic into Mexico. Probably the most commonly collected Aleiodes species in the East.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Female attacks Noctuidae larvae. Host records from Mythimna unipuncta (Haworth), Nephelodes minians Guenee, Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith), Spodoptera ornithogalli (Guenee, and Xestia smithii (Snellen).
Life History
In Maryland, 4 to 6 generations per year.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Aleiodes terminalis Cresson, 1869
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Aleiodes terminalis. 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 Terminal Mummy Wasp (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Bob Carlson; Additional contributions by josephfortier , Matthias Buck , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Terminal Mummy Wasp
What is Terminal Mummy Wasp?
Terminal Mummy Wasp (Aleiodes terminalis) is a species in the family Braconidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Terminal Mummy Wasp?
5 - 8 mm
How do you identify Terminal Mummy Wasp?
Body 2-colored, orange and black. T1-2 orange with following segments black. Ocelli small, distance between eye and lateral ocellus about equal to ocellus width. Hind tibia black with light yellowish-white band on basal third. Hind tarsomeres black. Tarsal claws not pectinate. It and our other members of the unipunctator species-group can be distinguished from many similarly colored species in other species-groups by the pale band on the hind tibia.
Where is Terminal Mummy Wasp found?
Range: Across the Nearctic into Mexico. Probably the most commonly collected Aleiodes species in the East.
What does Terminal Mummy Wasp eat?
The diet of the Terminal Mummy Wasp includes Female attacks Noctuidae larvae. Host records from Mythimna unipuncta (Haworth), Nephelodes minians Guenee, Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith), Spodoptera ornithogalli (Guenee, and Xestia smithii (Snellen)..
What is the life cycle of a Terminal Mummy Wasp?
In Maryland, 4 to 6 generations per year.