Enicospilus flavostigma
This record describes Enicospilus flavostigma (species). Recorded family: Ichneumonidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Ichneumonoidea
- Family
- Ichneumonidae (Ichneumonid Wasps)
- Subfamily
- Ophioninae
- Genus
- Enicospilus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
CA to FL, north to NS; mostly tropical
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Hosts: Alabama argillacea (Hübner, 1823) Melipotis fasciolaris (Hübner, 1831) Mythimna unipuncta (Haworth, 1809) Scoliopteryx libatrix (Linnaeus, 1758) Heterocampa guttivitta (Walker, 1855) Heterocampa manteo (Doubleday, 1869) Hippia packardi (Morrison, 1875) Lochmaeus manteo Doubleday, 1841 Nadata gibbosa (Smith, 1797) Schizura concinna (Smith, 1797)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: "Yellow stigma"
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Enicospilus flavostigma. 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 Enicospilus flavostigma (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by PaleoJon , behmrachel