Ancistrocerus adiabatus
This record describes Ancistrocerus adiabatus (species). Recorded family: Vespidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
It always has a full yellow stripe on metanotum, rather than two spots as in A. catskill . It is also distinctly more slender, with urotergite I almost as long as broad. (Richard Vernier, 30.vii.2010)
Wikipedia reference for Ancistrocerus adiabatus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancistrocerus_adiabatus.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Vespoidea
- Family
- Vespidae
- Subfamily
- Eumeninae
- Genus
- Ancistrocerus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Transcontinental in Canada and the US
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Ancistrocerus adiabatus (de Saussure 1852)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Ancistrocerus adiabatus. 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 Ancistrocerus adiabatus (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Hartmut Wisch , Matthias Buck , v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Ancistrocerus adiabatus
What is Ancistrocerus adiabatus?
Ancistrocerus adiabatus is a species in the family Vespidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Ancistrocerus adiabatus?
Forewing: ♂ 5.0–7.0 mm, ♀ 6.5–9.5 mm
How do you identify Ancistrocerus adiabatus?
It always has a full yellow stripe on metanotum, rather than two spots as in A. catskill . It is also distinctly more slender, with urotergite I almost as long as broad. (Richard Vernier, 30.vii.2010)
Where is Ancistrocerus adiabatus found?
Range: Transcontinental in Canada and the US