Tetracnemoidea sydneyensis
This record describes Tetracnemoidea sydneyensis (species). Recorded family: Encyrtidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
introduced into so. CA in 1933 to control the Long-tailed Mealybug ( P. longispinus
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Chalcidoidea
- Family
- Encyrtidae (Encyrtid Wasps)
- Subfamily
- Tetracneminae
- Genus
- Tetracnemoidea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
native to Australia, introduced in so. CA (also Ghana, Israel, and a number of tropical islands worldwide)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: hosts: Pseudococcidae, esp. Pseudococcus spp.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Tetracnemoidea sydneyensis (Timberlake 1929)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Tetracnemoidea sydneyensis. 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 Tetracnemoidea sydneyensis (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Tetracnemoidea sydneyensis
What is Tetracnemoidea sydneyensis?
Tetracnemoidea sydneyensis is a species in the family Encyrtidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
Where is Tetracnemoidea sydneyensis found?
Range: native to Australia, introduced in so. CA (also Ghana, Israel, and a number of tropical islands worldwide)
What does Tetracnemoidea sydneyensis eat?
The diet of the Tetracnemoidea sydneyensis includes hosts: Pseudococcidae, esp. Pseudococcus spp..