Neotypus nobilitator
This record describes Neotypus nobilitator (species). Recorded family: Ichneumonidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
♀ ♂ The species [...] had been regarded as an invader here, but I wasn't aware of any host records when I did the ichneumonids in the 1979 catalog, but I now find that the Asian subspecies has been reared from Cupido argiades . This causes me to wonder if any of the Polyommatinae in North America are known to be or suspected of being invaders from Europe. [...] European ichneumonids came to North America with the influx of European human immigrants usually piggy-backed on a host. (Bob Carlson, pers. comm. to =v=, 11/9/09) I don't know why I said that in 2009; in the Hymenoptera Catalog, I cited Cupido comyntas , the eastern tailed-blue, as a host. Moreover, Taxapad lists a total of 14 Lycaenids as associates of Neotypus nobilitator .
Identification notes
♀ ♂
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Ichneumonoidea
- Family
- Ichneumonidae (Ichneumonid Wasps)
- Subfamily
- Ichneumoninae
- Tribe
- Ichneumonini
- Genus
- Neotypus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Neotypus nobilitator. 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 Neotypus nobilitator (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Bob Carlson; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , v belov , PaleoJon