Okinawa Mud Wasp
Delta esuriens
This record describes Delta esuriens (species). Recorded family: Vespidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
D. higletti rendalli can also be yellow-marked; however, such individuals lack yellow on the metanotum earliest record in our area: FL 2011 (BG data)
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Vespoidea
- Family
- Vespidae
- Subfamily
- Eumeninae
- Genus
- Delta
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Native to Asia & Africa; adventive in Australasia and NA (FL, CA)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Delta esuriens (Fabricius 1787)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Delta esuriens. 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 Okinawa Mud Wasp (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jonathan Hoskins; Additional contributions by Matthias Buck , v belov , bdagley
Frequently Asked Questions About Okinawa Mud Wasp
What is Okinawa Mud Wasp?
Okinawa Mud Wasp (Delta esuriens) is a species in the family Vespidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Okinawa Mud Wasp?
D. higletti rendalli can also be yellow-marked; however, such individuals lack yellow on the metanotum
Where is Okinawa Mud Wasp found?
Range: Native to Asia & Africa; adventive in Australasia and NA (FL, CA)