Coccophagus lycimnia
This record describes Coccophagus lycimnia (species). Recorded family: Aphelinidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Females with conspicuous yellow spot on scutellum. Spot absent in males. This species is sometimes used for the control of scale insects in greenhouses.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Chalcidoidea
- Family
- Aphelinidae
- Subfamily
- Coccophaginae
- Genus
- Coccophagus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Cosmopolitan
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Hosts are various scale insects
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Coccophagus lycimnia (Walker 1839)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Coccophagus lycimnia. 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 Coccophagus lycimnia (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Matthias Buck; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Coccophagus lycimnia
What is Coccophagus lycimnia?
Coccophagus lycimnia is a species in the family Aphelinidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Coccophagus lycimnia?
Females with conspicuous yellow spot on scutellum. Spot absent in males.
Where is Coccophagus lycimnia found?
Range: Cosmopolitan
What does Coccophagus lycimnia eat?
The diet of the Coccophagus lycimnia includes Hosts are various scale insects.