Arotes melleus
This record describes Arotes melleus (species). Recorded family: Ichneumonidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The female is largely ferrugineous with stramineous markings on the scutellum, postscutellum, trochanters, tibial bases, tarsi, underneath of the pedicel, and subgenital plate. The wings are hyaline with a black stigma and a broadly crescent-shaped (not subcircular) apical spot on the forewing. The antennae are blackish with a broad white annulus. The male is black with pale yellow fore and mid legs, prontoum, sometimes a central spot on the mesoscutum (no stripes following notauli), scutellum, postscutellum, apex of propodeum, and apical bands on the abdomen. The hind legs have the coxae black to fulvous with yellow beneath, trochanters yellow, femora black to fulvous, tibiae with the base infuscate and apex yellow, and tarsi yellow. The wings are hyaline with a black stigma and a broadly crescent-shaped apical spot on the forewing. The antennae are blackish with a broad white annulus.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Ichneumonoidea
- Family
- Ichneumonidae (Ichneumonid Wasps)
- Subfamily
- Acaenitinae
- Genus
- Arotes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
northeastern US (DC, sw. IN, MD, S. MI, w. NC, NJ, NY, PA)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Arotes melleus (Say, 1835)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Arotes melleus. 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 Arotes melleus (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Arotes melleus
What is Arotes melleus?
Arotes melleus is a species in the family Ichneumonidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Arotes melleus?
Forewing 9-10.5 mm
How do you identify Arotes melleus?
The female is largely ferrugineous with stramineous markings on the scutellum, postscutellum, trochanters, tibial bases, tarsi, underneath of the pedicel, and subgenital plate. The wings are hyaline with a black stigma and a broadly crescent-shaped (not subcircular) apical spot on the forewing. The antennae are blackish with a broad white annulus. The male is black with pale yellow fore and mid legs, prontoum, sometimes a central spot on the mesoscutum (no stripes following notauli), scutellum, postscutellum, apex of propodeum, and apical bands on the abdomen. The hind legs have the coxae black to fulvous with yellow beneath, trochanters yellow, femora black to fulvous, tibiae with the base infuscate and apex yellow, and tarsi yellow. The wings are hyaline with a black stigma and a broadly crescent-shaped apical spot on the forewing. The antennae are blackish with a broad white annulus.
Where is Arotes melleus found?
Range: northeastern US (DC, sw. IN, MD, S. MI, w. NC, NJ, NY, PA)