Odontocolon vicinum
This record describes Odontocolon vicinum (species). Recorded family: Ichneumonidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The male has fore and mid legs yellow and hind legs black except for trochanters and sometimes the bases of femora. The female is distinct in its black abdomen, pale fulvous legs, strongly flaring temples, sparsely punctate lower half of hind femur, and short petiolar area.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Ichneumonoidea
- Family
- Ichneumonidae (Ichneumonid Wasps)
- Subfamily
- Xoridinae
- Genus
- Odontocolon
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern Canada, northern United States
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae in Dicera (Coleoptera, Buprestidae).
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Odontocolon vicinum. 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 Odontocolon vicinum (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John F. Carr
Frequently Asked Questions About Odontocolon vicinum
What is Odontocolon vicinum?
Odontocolon vicinum is a species in the family Ichneumonidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Odontocolon vicinum?
The male has fore and mid legs yellow and hind legs black except for trochanters and sometimes the bases of femora. The female is distinct in its black abdomen, pale fulvous legs, strongly flaring temples, sparsely punctate lower half of hind femur, and short petiolar area.
Where is Odontocolon vicinum found?
Range: Southern Canada, northern United States
What does Odontocolon vicinum eat?
The diet of the Odontocolon vicinum includes Larvae in Dicera (Coleoptera, Buprestidae)..