Dolichurus greenei
This record describes Dolichurus greenei (species). Recorded family: Ampulicidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Distinguished as the only eastern Ampulicidae with a black body but the tip of the gaster (apical margin of segment 3 and following) reddish. Most similar to the western species Paradolichurus californicus (San Diego Co., CA), which has gastral segment 1 black and all following segments reddish. (see Williams, 1959 & Kimsey, 1993 )
Wikipedia reference for Dolichurus greenei: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolichurus_greenei.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Ampulicidae (Cockroach Wasps)
- Genus
- Dolichurus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
eastern (Ontario south to FL, west to MO) ( map )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Parcoblatta nymphs
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Dolichurus greenei Rohwer 1916
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Dolichurus greenei. 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 Dolichurus greenei (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Matthias Buck; Additional contributions by v belov , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Dolichurus greenei
What is Dolichurus greenei?
Dolichurus greenei is a species in the family Ampulicidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Dolichurus greenei?
Distinguished as the only eastern Ampulicidae with a black body but the tip of the gaster (apical margin of segment 3 and following) reddish. Most similar to the western species Paradolichurus californicus (San Diego Co., CA), which has gastral segment 1 black and all following segments reddish. (see Williams, 1959 & Kimsey, 1993 )
Where is Dolichurus greenei found?
Range: eastern (Ontario south to FL, west to MO) ( map )
What does Dolichurus greenei eat?
The diet of the Dolichurus greenei includes Parcoblatta nymphs.