Leptochilus bellulus
This record describes Leptochilus bellulus (species). Recorded family: Vespidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Characteristic are the isolated white spots on tergum 2.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Vespoidea
- Family
- Vespidae
- Subfamily
- Eumeninae
- Genus
- Leptochilus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Ga., Ala., Miss., Ark., Okla., Tex.; Mexico (Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Guanajuato) (Krombein, 1979)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Leptochilus bellulus (Cresson 1872)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Leptochilus bellulus. 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 Leptochilus bellulus (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Matthias Buck; Additional contributions by v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Leptochilus bellulus
What is Leptochilus bellulus?
Leptochilus bellulus is a species in the family Vespidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Leptochilus bellulus?
Characteristic are the isolated white spots on tergum 2.
Where is Leptochilus bellulus found?
Range: Ga., Ala., Miss., Ark., Okla., Tex.; Mexico (Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Guanajuato) (Krombein, 1979)