Trichacis
This record describes Trichacis (genus). Recorded family: Platygastridae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Small dark wasps with sharply elbowed antennae. Scutellum with a specialised area with a tuft of fine dense erect hair at the end. Frons smooth; temples receding behind the eyes. Club of the female antennae with 3–5 segments. Abdomen formed of six visible tergites. Currently three species on the UK checklist but a recent paper suggest there may only be one, so we currently suggest recording these species at genus level. Unless identified by a recognised expert, photos are required showing the key features. If keyed describe how it was identified and the key used. Awad, J, Krogmann, L, & Talamas, E. Illuminating a dark taxon: Revision of European Trichacis Förster (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) reveals a glut of synonyms. Zootaxa, 5278, 563-577. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Platygastroidea
- Family
- Platygastridae
- Subfamily
- Platygastrinae
- Genus
- Trichacis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Unknown.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Trichacis. 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.
