Xyela bakeri
This record describes Xyela bakeri (species). Recorded family: Xyelidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Females with ventral margin of the saw-like end of the abdomen straight, the sheath distinctly short and stout with the dorsal and ventral margins parallel until the dorsal sharply extends down to meet the ventral margin towards the end, forming a dinner knife-like shape. Males need less conspicuous features of the genitalia for identification (Burdick, 1961). Color in both sexes usually black, lighter tones behind lateral ocelli, wing veins and stigma brown, wing membrane hyaline. Specimens from the west are reportedly very black while those from the east show more brown. In the south, the background may be more yellowish with reddish-brown and black patterns (Burdick, 1961).
Wikipedia reference for Xyela bakeri: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xyela_bakeri.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Family
- Xyelidae (Xyelid Sawflies)
- Subfamily
- Xyelinae
- Genus
- Xyela
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
across NA
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae known from Pinus palustris , P. virginiana , P. ponderosa , and P. sabiniana (Burdick, 1961). Adults known to feed on the pollen of willows ( Salix ), alders ( Alnus ), hazels ( Corylus ), maples ( Acer ), and plums/cherries ( Prunus ) (Burdick, 1961).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Xyela bakeri Konow 1898
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Xyela bakeri. 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 Xyela bakeri (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Ken Wolgemuth; Additional contributions by v belov , Arturo Santos
Frequently Asked Questions About Xyela bakeri
What is Xyela bakeri?
Xyela bakeri is a species in the family Xyelidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Xyela bakeri?
Females with ventral margin of the saw-like end of the abdomen straight, the sheath distinctly short and stout with the dorsal and ventral margins parallel until the dorsal sharply extends down to meet the ventral margin towards the end, forming a dinner knife-like shape. Males need less conspicuous features of the genitalia for identification (Burdick, 1961). Color in both sexes usually black, lighter tones behind lateral ocelli, wing veins and stigma brown, wing membrane hyaline. Specimens from the west are reportedly very black while those from the east show more brown. In the south, the background may be more yellowish with reddish-brown and black patterns (Burdick, 1961).
Where is Xyela bakeri found?
Range: across NA
What does Xyela bakeri eat?
The diet of the Xyela bakeri includes Larvae known from Pinus palustris , P. virginiana , P. ponderosa , and P. sabiniana (Burdick, 1961). Adults known to feed on the pollen of willows ( Salix ), alders ( Alnus ), hazels ( Corylus ), maples ( Acer ), and plums/cherries ( Prunus ) (Burdick, 1961)..