Buathra laborator
This record describes Buathra laborator (species). Recorded family: Ichneumonidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Quite a large blackish insect with mainly orange legs. There are other similar species and expert help is needed with identification. The images that appear in a red box are representative of this species, but have not been subject to detailed expert examination to confirm the identification. Although it is little recorded it is probably quite frequent in Britain.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Ichneumonoidea
- Family
- Ichneumonidae (Ichneumonid Wasps)
- Subfamily
- Cryptinae
- Tribe
- Cryptini
- Genus
- Buathra
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Seasonal Activity
Late spring and summer.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Although it is little recorded it is probably quite frequent in Britain.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Buathra laborator. 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.
