Eupelmus dryohizoxeni
This record describes Eupelmus dryohizoxeni (species). Recorded family: Eupelmidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wings of female naturally bent in an L-shape so that about the apical half sticks up vertically. Similar in habitus to another species, Eupelmus vesicularis (Retzius). In E. vesicularis the mesoscutum and scutellum are flat, but in E. dryohizoxeni they are quite conspicuously convex so in the large image shown above the top of the thorax is somewhat M-like. See comment by Gary Gibson below this image .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Chalcidoidea
- Family
- Eupelmidae
- Subfamily
- Eupelminae
- Genus
- Eupelmus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Throughout the US and adjacent Canada.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Relatively common parasitoid in cynipid galls
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Author: Ashmead, 1886 species name was based on the generic name of the cynipid making the gall from which the type series was reared
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Eupelmus dryohizoxeni. 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 Eupelmus dryohizoxeni (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset
Frequently Asked Questions About Eupelmus dryohizoxeni
What is Eupelmus dryohizoxeni?
Eupelmus dryohizoxeni is a species in the family Eupelmidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Eupelmus dryohizoxeni?
Wings of female naturally bent in an L-shape so that about the apical half sticks up vertically. Similar in habitus to another species, Eupelmus vesicularis (Retzius). In E. vesicularis the mesoscutum and scutellum are flat, but in E. dryohizoxeni they are quite conspicuously convex so in the large image shown above the top of the thorax is somewhat M-like.
Where is Eupelmus dryohizoxeni found?
Range: Throughout the US and adjacent Canada.
What does Eupelmus dryohizoxeni eat?
The diet of the Eupelmus dryohizoxeni includes Relatively common parasitoid in cynipid galls.