Arge onerosa
This record describes Arge onerosa (species). Recorded family: Argidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Only Arge I know of with yellow antennae, abdomen, and legs. --Dave Smith
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Family
- Argidae (Argid Sawflies)
- Genus
- Arge
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
transcontinental in n. NA south to VA-CO-CA
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Has been reared from larvae on willows
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Arge onerosa (MacGillivray 1923) onerosa Latin 'burdensome, heavy, oppressive'
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Arge onerosa. 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 Arge onerosa (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Arge onerosa
What is Arge onerosa?
Arge onerosa is a species in the family Argidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Arge onerosa?
♂ 8.0-9.5 mm, ♀ 9.0-10.5 mm
How do you identify Arge onerosa?
Only Arge I know of with yellow antennae, abdomen, and legs. --Dave Smith
Where is Arge onerosa found?
Range: transcontinental in n. NA south to VA-CO-CA
What does Arge onerosa eat?
The diet of the Arge onerosa includes Has been reared from larvae on willows.