Dicopomorpha echmepterygis
This record describes Dicopomorpha echmepterygis (species). Recorded family: Mymaridae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Antenna with 7 funicular segments, with the second approximately equal in length to first. The male of this species is much smaller, blind, and wingless but possesses long legs that it uses to attach itself to a female that is emerging from the egg of its host. The male is the smallest known adult insect.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Chalcidoidea
- Family
- Mymaridae (Fairy Wasps)
- Tribe
- Gonatocerini
- Genus
- Dicopomorpha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Egg parasite of Echmepteryx hageni
Geographic Range
Illinois and (BG record) Missouri
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Dicopomorpha echmepterygis Mockford, 1997
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Dicopomorpha echmepterygis. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dicopomorpha echmepterygis
What is Dicopomorpha echmepterygis?
Dicopomorpha echmepterygis is a species in the family Mymaridae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Dicopomorpha echmepterygis?
386 µm (female), 139-240 µm (male)
How do you identify Dicopomorpha echmepterygis?
Antenna with 7 funicular segments, with the second approximately equal in length to first.
Where is Dicopomorpha echmepterygis found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Egg parasite of Echmepteryx hageni |
| Range | Illinois and (BG record) Missouri |