Prosevania fuscipes
This record describes Prosevania fuscipes (species). Recorded family: Evaniidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Introduced from Africa. Native to the Mediterranean.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Evanioidea
- Family
- Evaniidae (Ensign Wasps)
- Genus
- Prosevania
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
MA to OH, NC, and GA
Diet and Behavior
Diet: It oviposits on cockroach egg cases of Blatta orientalis (Oriental cockroach) and Periplaneta americana ("American" cockroach, introduced from Africa)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Prosevania fuscipes (Illiger, 1807)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Prosevania fuscipes. 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 Prosevania fuscipes (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jonathan Hoskins; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , bdagley
Frequently Asked Questions About Prosevania fuscipes
What is Prosevania fuscipes?
Prosevania fuscipes is a species in the family Evaniidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
Where is Prosevania fuscipes found?
Range: MA to OH, NC, and GA
What does Prosevania fuscipes eat?
The diet of the Prosevania fuscipes includes It oviposits on cockroach egg cases of Blatta orientalis (Oriental cockroach) and Periplaneta americana (American cockroach, introduced from Africa).