Gelis areator agg.
This record describes Gelis areator agg. (species). Recorded family: Ichneumonidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Despite its distinctive appearance, with dark banded milky white wings and an almost back thorax with red marking, this parasitic wasp is very difficult to identify to species as there are similar members of the genus, particularly Gelis cinctus . For this reason we have decided to treat this group as an aggregate for the purpose of this website. Based on the few available records we have found it would seem that the peak time is May to September. Seems to be fairly widespread in Britain but is not well recorded, probably due to the difficulty of identification, so exact status is not known. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera
- Family
- Ichneumonidae
- Genus
- Gelis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Seasonal Activity
Based on the few available records we have found it would seem that the peak time is May to September.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Seems to be fairly widespread in Britain but is not well recorded, probably due to the difficulty of identification, so exact status is not known.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Gelis areator agg.. 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.
