Toxeuma fuscicorne
This record describes Toxeuma fuscicorne (species). Recorded family: Pteromalidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Antennal formula 11263; notauli complete; prepectus reticulate, without carinae; metasoma lanceolate, teregite 8 1.5–1.7 times as long as broad, metasoma 1.05–1.2 times as long as mesosoma and head together. Unless identified by a recognised expert, explain how the specimen was identifed and indlude photos of key ID features. Tselikh, E.V., & Dale-Skey, N. (2021) Review of the genus Toxeuma Walker, 1833 (Hymenoptera, Pteromalidae) from Russia, with a key to Palaearctic species. Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 84, 391-403. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera
- Family
- Pteromalidae
- Genus
- Toxeuma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Parasitoid of Agromyza schineri.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widespread.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Toxeuma fuscicorne. 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.
