Tachytes distinctus
This record describes Tachytes distinctus (species). Recorded family: Crabronidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Hind femora have no patches of long hairs on ventral side. Hind femora are mostly red or mostly black, depending on variety/gender. (males have mostly black) Hind tibiae are mostly red or all-red. Mandibles are light-colored. |
| Body | Body all-dark. |
| Wings | Wings are orange colored with darker tips. Scutum has silvery or golden reflective pubescence along the edges. ♀ three pale abdominal bands and a dark coppery brown pygidial plate ♂ four pale abdominal bands and a bright silvery pygidial plate |
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Crabronidae (Square-headed Wasps, Sand Wasps, and Allies)
- Subfamily
- Crabroninae
- Tribe
- Larrini
- Genus
- Tachytes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
transcontinental, Canada to Costa Rica
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Females with Prey: (Grasshoppers)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Tachytes distinctus. 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 Tachytes distinctus (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robert Lord Zimlich; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , v belov , KenW , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Tachytes distinctus
What is Tachytes distinctus?
Tachytes distinctus is a species in the family Crabronidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Tachytes distinctus?
large-sized species
How do you identify Tachytes distinctus?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Hind femora have no patches of long hairs on ventral side. Hind femora are mostly red or mostly black, depending on variety/gender. (males have mostly black) Hind tibiae are mostly red or all-red. Mandibles are light-colored. |
| Body | Body all-dark. |
| Wings | Wings are orange colored with darker tips. Scutum has silvery or golden reflective pubescence along the edges. ♀ three pale abdominal bands and a dark coppery brown pygidial plate ♂ four pale abdominal bands and a bright silvery pygidial plate |
Where is Tachytes distinctus found?
Range: transcontinental, Canada to Costa Rica
What is the life cycle of a Tachytes distinctus?
Females with Prey: (Grasshoppers)