Vollenhovia emeryi
This record describes Vollenhovia emeryi (species). Recorded family: Formicidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Colonies of this species vary heavily in range -- recently split colonies may consist of just a queen and a dozen workers, to full colonies which have dozens of queens and thousands of workers. I believe the largest colonies I have collected have had over 40 producing queens and over 2000 workers.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Formicoidea
- Family
- Formicidae (Ants)
- Subfamily
- Myrmicinae
- Tribe
- Crematogastrini
- Genus
- Vollenhovia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Disturbed forest habitat. I (O. Yung) often find this species in bottomland mixed mesic hardwood forest in wood and sometimes under stones.
Geographic Range
Theorized to have been brought to the Washington D.C. with the famous cherry trees, it has since spread from northeastern Virginia (Fairfax Co., Prince William Co.) to Philadelphia, and recently records of the species have begun to appear on the Jersey side of the Hudson, directly across from the Bronx.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The form invasive to the US is the short winged form, which have brachypterous queens and reproduce clonally via parthenogenesis. Large enough colonies of the short winged form also produce long winged alates to spread, which fly in late spring. The brood of this species develops exceptionally slowly. Larvae overwinter in the nest, which develop into pupae the following spring. Queens seem to lay eggs in late spring to early summer, when pupae eclose into workers.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Vollenhovia emeryi. 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 Vollenhovia emeryi (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by James C. Trager; Additional contributions by Oliver.Yung
Frequently Asked Questions About Vollenhovia emeryi
What is Vollenhovia emeryi?
Vollenhovia emeryi is a species in the family Formicidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Vollenhovia emeryi?
3 mm workers
Where is Vollenhovia emeryi found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Disturbed forest habitat. I (O. Yung) often find this species in bottomland mixed mesic hardwood forest in wood and sometimes under stones. |
| Range | Theorized to have been brought to the Washington D.C. with the famous cherry trees, it has since spread from northeastern Virginia (Fairfax Co., Prince William Co.) to Philadelphia, and recently records of the species have begun to appear on the Jersey side of the Hudson, directly across from the Bronx. |
What is the life cycle of a Vollenhovia emeryi?
The form invasive to the US is the short winged form, which have brachypterous queens and reproduce clonally via parthenogenesis. Large enough colonies of the short winged form also produce long winged alates to spread, which fly in late spring. The brood of this species develops exceptionally slowly. Larvae overwinter in the nest, which develop into pupae the following spring. Queens seem to lay eggs in late spring to early summer, when pupae eclose into workers.