Crossocerus binotatus
This record describes Crossocerus binotatus (species). Recorded family: Crabronidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Differs from all North American species by the unusual colour pattern (metasoma richly marked with yellow but spots on tergum 2 much smaller than on following terga; tergum 1 with yellow sides) and the unusually slender first metasomal segment (a few Nearctic species also have a slender first segment but lack yellow markings on the metasoma). A few other European species are very similar.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Crabronidae (Square-headed Wasps, Sand Wasps, and Allies)
- Subfamily
- Crabroninae
- Tribe
- Crabronini
- Genus
- Crossocerus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Central and northern Europe, apparently introduced to Quebec.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Crossocerus binotatus Lepeletier & Brullé 1835
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Crossocerus binotatus. 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 Crossocerus binotatus (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Matthias Buck; Additional contributions by v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Crossocerus binotatus
What is Crossocerus binotatus?
Crossocerus binotatus is a species in the family Crabronidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Crossocerus binotatus?
Differs from all North American species by the unusual colour pattern (metasoma richly marked with yellow but spots on tergum 2 much smaller than on following terga; tergum 1 with yellow sides) and the unusually slender first metasomal segment (a few Nearctic species also have a slender first segment but lack yellow markings on the metasoma). A few other European species are very similar.
Where is Crossocerus binotatus found?
Range: Central and northern Europe, apparently introduced to Quebec.