Atanycolus cappaerti
This record describes Atanycolus cappaerti (species). Recorded family: Braconidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Head and thorax jet black, abdomen bright red with a pink venter. The related, non-native A. hicoriae has very similar coloration (though with the venter of the metasoma yellow to yellowish red). A. cappaerti also has several of the apical flagellomeres longer than wide (versus as wide or wider than long in A. hicoriae ). The antenna usually has fewer than 40 flagellomeres in A. cappaerti (versus usually over 40 in A. hicoriae ). A native species capable of feeding on the introduced emerald ash borer. It is used as a biocontrol.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Ichneumonoidea
- Family
- Braconidae (Braconid Wasps)
- Subfamily
- Braconinae
- Genus
- Atanycolus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: solitary ectoparasitoid.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Atanycolus cappaerti. 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 Atanycolus cappaerti (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by v belov; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Mike Quinn , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Atanycolus cappaerti
What is Atanycolus cappaerti?
Atanycolus cappaerti is a species in the family Braconidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Atanycolus cappaerti?
Females 5-7 mm. with 6 mm. long ovipositor. Males 4 mm.
How do you identify Atanycolus cappaerti?
Head and thorax jet black, abdomen bright red with a pink venter. The related, non-native A. hicoriae has very similar coloration (though with the venter of the metasoma yellow to yellowish red). A. cappaerti also has several of the apical flagellomeres longer than wide (versus as wide or wider than long in A. hicoriae ). The antenna usually has fewer than 40 flagellomeres in A. cappaerti (versus usually over 40 in A. hicoriae ).
What does Atanycolus cappaerti eat?
The diet of the Atanycolus cappaerti includes solitary ectoparasitoid..