Tachytes guatemalensis
This record describes Tachytes guatemalensis (species). Recorded family: Crabronidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
♂ ♀ Mating pair: ♀♂ One of the more easily recognized Tachytes species: reddish wing base, only two abdominal segments with silvery bands (female), scutum without silvery pubescence. --Matthias Buck ( comments )
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
North America, northern South America. eastern U.S. to Texas and Kansas, Central America
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Females with prey: (Grasshoppers)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Tachytes guatemalensis. 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 guatemalensis (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Matthias Buck; Additional contributions by cotinis , Beatriz Moisset , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Tachytes guatemalensis
What is Tachytes guatemalensis?
Tachytes guatemalensis is a species in the family Crabronidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Tachytes guatemalensis?
♀ 16 mm length (Cameron, 1889); large-sized
How do you identify Tachytes guatemalensis?
♂ ♀ Mating pair: ♀♂ One of the more easily recognized Tachytes species: reddish wing base, only two abdominal segments with silvery bands (female), scutum without silvery pubescence. --Matthias Buck ( comments )
Where is Tachytes guatemalensis found?
Range: North America, northern South America. eastern U.S. to Texas and Kansas, Central America
What is the life cycle of a Tachytes guatemalensis?
Females with prey: (Grasshoppers)