Trichrysis cyanea
This record describes Trichrysis cyanea (species). Recorded family: Chrysididae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
About 9mm long and a rather iridescent sea green in colour. Associated with open habitats with aerial nesting sites of its hosts such as wooden fence and gate posts, dead trees, logs and tree stumps, and holes in mud and cob walls. Recorded from May until September but mainly during June and July. There are a very few records from April and October. The males and females have the same flight period. Several umbellifers are amongst the flowers it visits. It is a cuckoo wasp and its hosts include wasps of the Trypoxylon family. This species shows a widespread distribution in southern Britain up as far as Yorkshire with isolated records from further north No additional images available for this species.
Wikipedia reference for Trichrysis cyanea: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichrysis_cyanea.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera
- Family
- Chrysididae
- Genus
- Trichrysis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Associated with open habitats with aerial nesting sites of its hosts such as wooden fence and gate posts, dead trees, logs and tree stumps, and holes in mud and cob walls.
Seasonal Activity
Recorded from May until September but mainly during June and July. There are a very few records from April and October. The males and females have the same flight period.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Several umbellifers are amongst the flowers it visits. It is a cuckoo wasp and its hosts include wasps of the Trypoxylon family.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This species shows a widespread distribution in southern Britain up as far as Yorkshire with isolated records from further north
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Trichrysis cyanea. 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 Trichrysis cyanea (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Trichrysis cyanea
What is Trichrysis cyanea?
Trichrysis cyanea is a species in the family Chrysididae, within the order Hymenoptera.
Where is Trichrysis cyanea found?
Habitat: Associated with open habitats with aerial nesting sites of its hosts such as wooden fence and gate posts, dead trees, logs and tree stumps, and holes in mud and cob walls.
When is Trichrysis cyanea active?
Trichrysis cyanea: seasonal activity - Recorded from May until September but mainly during June and July. There are a very few records from April and October. The males and females have the same flight period..
What is the life cycle of a Trichrysis cyanea?
Several umbellifers are amongst the flowers it visits. It is a cuckoo wasp and its hosts include wasps of the Trypoxylon family.