Podalonia argentifrons 0
Podalonia argentifrons
This record describes Podalonia argentifrons (species). Recorded family: Sphecidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
This species has previously been confused with others in the same genus. Identification from images alone is not possible and requires study of very subtle morphological characters under the microscope.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Sphecidae (Thread-waisted Wasps)
- Subfamily
- Ammophilinae
- Genus
- Podalonia (Cutworm Wasps)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Western US and Canada
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae are provisioned with caterpillars exclusively from the family Noctuidae, according to O'Neill & Evans (1999) . Adults nectar at flowers.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: From Latin: argenti = silvery, frons = forehead . Presumably refers to the male which, according to Fernald, has: "Clypeus and frons...densely silvery pubescent".
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Podalonia argentifrons. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Podalonia argentifrons 0
What is Podalonia argentifrons 0?
Podalonia argentifrons 0 (Podalonia argentifrons) is a species in the family Sphecidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Podalonia argentifrons 0?
This species has previously been confused with others in the same genus. Identification from images alone is not possible and requires study of very subtle morphological characters under the microscope.
Where is Podalonia argentifrons 0 found?
Range: Western US and Canada
What does Podalonia argentifrons 0 eat?
The diet of the Podalonia argentifrons 0 includes Larvae are provisioned with caterpillars exclusively from the family Noctuidae, according to O'Neill & Evans (1999) . Adults nectar at flowers..