Charops annulipes
This record describes Charops annulipes (species). Recorded family: Ichneumonidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Type Locality: Missouri. Described from one specimen in the Charles Valentine Riley Collection . (Ashmead 1890)
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Ichneumonoidea
- Family
- Ichneumonidae (Ichneumonid Wasps)
- Subfamily
- Campopleginae
- Genus
- Charops
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
e US to AZ (AZ-FL-DE-IA) (BG data),(Anonymous 1974)
Seasonal Activity
mostly: Jun-Sep (BG data)
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Known hosts include Tarachidia erastrioides (Grenee) and the green clover worm, Plathypena scabra (Fabricius), both noctuids. (Anonymous 1974)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Charops annulipes Ashmead 1890
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Charops annulipes. 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 Charops annulipes (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Bob Carlson; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Charops annulipes
What is Charops annulipes?
Charops annulipes is a species in the family Ichneumonidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Charops annulipes?
7 mm (Ashmead 1890)
Where is Charops annulipes found?
Range: e US to AZ (AZ-FL-DE-IA) (BG data),(Anonymous 1974)
When is Charops annulipes active?
Charops annulipes: seasonal activity - mostly: Jun-Sep (BG data).
What is the life cycle of a Charops annulipes?
Known hosts include Tarachidia erastrioides (Grenee) and the green clover worm, Plathypena scabra (Fabricius), both noctuids. (Anonymous 1974)