Xiphydria mellipes
This record describes Xiphydria mellipes (species). Recorded family: Xiphydriidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Per Spencer Monckton here , species of Xiphydria are easily identified by colouration: black antennae, red legs, and black abdomen with lateral white spots says ... Xiphydria mellipes. This species prefers birch. Larvae bore and feed in small dead or weakened limbs of trees. [comment by Dave Smith]
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Family
- Xiphydriidae (Xiphydriid Wood Wasps)
- Genus
- Xiphydria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Xiphydria mellipes Harris 1841
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Xiphydria mellipes. 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 Xiphydria mellipes (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by v belov; Additional contributions by ceiseman , KenW