Parazumia symmorpha

This record describes Parazumia symmorpha (species). Recorded family: Vespidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Parazumia symmorpha - Parazumia symmorpha — Contributed by Sean McCann; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Matthias Buck , v belov

Slender first metasomal segment which lacks the carina of Ancistrocerus . The translucent, reflexed, lamellate hind margin of terga 2 and 3 is not visible here (similar to Euodynerus hidalgo which has a very broad segment 1 (comment by Matthias Buck).

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
Superfamily: Vespoidea
Family: Vespidae
Subfamily: Eumeninae
Genus: Parazumia

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

e NA (QC-FL to ON-NE-TX) ; AZ & CO records refer to P. tolteca

Additional species information

Species notes from the sources

Etymology: Parazumia symmorpha (de Saussure 1855)

About Flies: the wider group

Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Parazumia symmorpha. 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.

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