Pimpla maura
This record describes Pimpla maura (species). Recorded family: Ichneumonidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Body and legs black with restricted white markings (no ferruginous or fulvous); female with wings strongly infustate and male with wings moderately infuscate.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Ichneumonoidea
- Family
- Ichneumonidae (Ichneumonid Wasps)
- Subfamily
- Pimplinae
- Tribe
- Pimplini
- Genus
- Pimpla
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
FL, GA, NC, OH, TX
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts: Malacosoma americana , Orgyia leucostigma .
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Pimpla maura Cresson, 1870
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Pimpla maura. 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 Pimpla maura (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Bob Carlson; Additional contributions by PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Pimpla maura
What is Pimpla maura?
Pimpla maura is a species in the family Ichneumonidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Pimpla maura?
Forewing 9-15 mm
How do you identify Pimpla maura?
Body and legs black with restricted white markings (no ferruginous or fulvous); female with wings strongly infustate and male with wings moderately infuscate.
Where is Pimpla maura found?
Range: FL, GA, NC, OH, TX
What does Pimpla maura eat?
The diet of the Pimpla maura includes Larval hosts: Malacosoma americana , Orgyia leucostigma ..