Ametastegia equiseti
This record describes Ametastegia equiseti (species). Recorded family: Tenthredinidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Family
- Tenthredinidae (Common Sawflies)
- Subfamily
- Allantinae
- Tribe
- Empriini
- Genus
- Ametastegia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
most of the Holarctic Region; in NA, south to w. NC in the east and to OR in the west
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on Rumex in NA and several other hosts in Europe
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Ametastegia equiseti (Fallén 1808)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Ametastegia equiseti. 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 Ametastegia equiseti (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Ametastegia equiseti
How big is Ametastegia equiseti?
♀ 6.4-6.8 mm, ♂ 5.4-5.7 mm
Where is Ametastegia equiseti found?
Range: most of the Holarctic Region; in NA, south to w. NC in the east and to OR in the west
What does Ametastegia equiseti eat?
The diet of the Ametastegia equiseti includes Larvae feed on Rumex in NA and several other hosts in Europe.