Triscolia ardens
This record describes Triscolia ardens (species). Recorded family: Scoliidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewing | Forewing with three submarginal cells and a single recurrent vein which meets the posterior edge of the 2nd submarginal cell (see diagram here ). |
| Wings | Wings very dark, violaceous; thorax entirely black; first two abdominal tergites mostly black, the remaining (posterior) tergites red and more bushy-hairy. Males have a pseudostinger with three narrow spines projecting slightly beyond the tip of abdomen; females lack such spines. Triscolia ardens is presumably the model for the dipteran mimic Mydas ventralis . |
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Scolioidea
- Family
- Scoliidae (Scoliid Wasps)
- Tribe
- Scoliini
- Genus
- Triscolia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Desert, e.g. the Mojave and Colorado deserts of California ( 5 )
Geographic Range
TX, NM, AZ, CA; and south into Mexico. ( 3 ) ( 4 )
Seasonal Activity
June to November
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Triscolia ardens (Smith, 1855)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Triscolia ardens. 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 Triscolia ardens (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by George Waldren; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Aaron Schusteff , v belov , KenW , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Triscolia ardens
What is Triscolia ardens?
Triscolia ardens is a species in the family Scoliidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Triscolia ardens?
♀ forewing 19.8 mm; body length 23.4 - 26.5 mm ♂ forewing 19.1 mm; body length 23.6 - 23.9 mm (Noticeably larger than S. dubia haematodes .)
How do you identify Triscolia ardens?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewing | Forewing with three submarginal cells and a single recurrent vein which meets the posterior edge of the 2nd submarginal cell (see diagram here ). |
| Wings | Wings very dark, violaceous; thorax entirely black; first two abdominal tergites mostly black, the remaining (posterior) tergites red and more bushy-hairy. Males have a pseudostinger with three narrow spines projecting slightly beyond the tip of abdomen; females lack such spines. |
Where is Triscolia ardens found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Desert, e.g. the Mojave and Colorado deserts of California ( 5 ) |
| Range | TX, NM, AZ, CA; and south into Mexico. ( 3 ) ( 4 ) |
When is Triscolia ardens active?
Triscolia ardens: seasonal activity - June to November.