Hymenochaonia delicata
This record describes Hymenochaonia delicata (species). Recorded family: Braconidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Excerpt copied verbatim: ♂♀ Slender, pale honey-yellow; spot enclosed by ocelli, and tips of mandibles blackish; eyes prominent, black; antennae longer than body, very, slender, curled at tips, base more or less dusky, incisures of joints fuscous; mesothorax strongly trilobed; sometimes the scutellum, metathorax above and basal segments of abdomen above are more or less dusky; wings pale yellowish-hyaline, iridescent, nervures fuscous, stigma pale yellow; thorax paler beneath; legs slender, yellowish-white, paler at base, tips of tibiae and of tarsi faintly dusky; abdomen longer than head and thorax, smooth, apex more or less dusky, lateral tubercles of first segment not prominent; ovipositor generally much longer than body, honey-yellow, sheaths pilose, fuscous. , pages 178-179. Updated diagnosis and key in Muesebeck. This species is potentially useful for pest control.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Ichneumonoidea
- Family
- Braconidae (Braconid Wasps)
- Subfamily
- Macrocentrinae
- Genus
- Hymenochaonia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
QC south to FL, west to MB & TX; ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Life History
This braconid is a parasite of numerous species of moth larvae in several families, including the invasive pest, [url]/node/view/338365]Aspila molesta[/url (]Oriental fruit moth).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Hymenochaonia delicata (Cresson, 1872)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Hymenochaonia delicata. 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 Hymenochaonia delicata (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by v belov; Additional contributions by Jay Greenberg , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Hymenochaonia delicata
What is Hymenochaonia delicata?
Hymenochaonia delicata is a species in the family Braconidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Hymenochaonia delicata?
4-8 mm body length
How do you identify Hymenochaonia delicata?
Excerpt copied verbatim: ♂♀ Slender, pale honey-yellow; spot enclosed by ocelli, and tips of mandibles blackish; eyes prominent, black; antennae longer than body, very, slender, curled at tips, base more or less dusky, incisures of joints fuscous; mesothorax strongly trilobed; sometimes the scutellum, metathorax above and basal segments of abdomen above are more or less dusky; wings pale yellowish-hyaline, iridescent, nervures fuscous, stigma pale yellow; thorax paler beneath; legs slender, yellowish-white, paler at base, tips of tibiae and of tarsi faintly dusky; abdomen longer than head and thorax, smooth, apex more or less dusky, lateral tubercles of first segment not prominent; ovipositor generally much longer than body, honey-yellow, sheaths pilose, fuscous. , pages 178-179. Updated diagnosis and key in Muesebeck.
Where is Hymenochaonia delicata found?
Range: QC south to FL, west to MB & TX; ( 3 )
What is the life cycle of a Hymenochaonia delicata?
This braconid is a parasite of numerous species of moth larvae in several families, including the invasive pest, [url]/node/view/338365]Aspila molesta[/url (]Oriental fruit moth).