Xyela minor
This record describes Xyela minor (species). Recorded family: Xyelidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Females with ventral margin of the saw-like end of the abdomen shallowly curving down, the sheath shorter than 6.5 mm, without the dorsal and ventral margins abruptly meeting at the end to form an acute apex, ovipositor at least 2 mm in length. For females, valvulae need to be examined for identification and males require less conspicuous features of the genitalia (Burdick, 1961). Background color yellow, wing veins pale brown, stigma pale brown, wing membrane hyaline. Third segment of maxillary palpus longer than first antennal segment and wider than third antennal segment (Burdick, 1961).
Wikipedia reference for Xyela minor: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xyela_minor.
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
Habitat
Coniferous areas
Geographic Range
Widespread
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae known from longleaf pine Pinus palustris (at least in FL), slash pine P. elliottii (at least in FL), Pinus virginiana , P. ponderosa , P. sabiniana , P. coulteri , and P. muricata (Burdick, 1961; Ebel, 1966). Adults known to feed on the pollen of willows ( Salix ), alders ( Alnus ), hazels ( Corylus ), and plums/cherries ( Prunus ) (Burdick, 1961).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Xyela minor Norton 1869
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Xyela minor. 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 minor (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by v belov , Arturo Santos
Frequently Asked Questions About Xyela minor
What is Xyela minor?
Xyela minor is a species in the family Xyelidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Xyela minor?
Females with ventral margin of the saw-like end of the abdomen shallowly curving down, the sheath shorter than 6.5 mm, without the dorsal and ventral margins abruptly meeting at the end to form an acute apex, ovipositor at least 2 mm in length. For females, valvulae need to be examined for identification and males require less conspicuous features of the genitalia (Burdick, 1961). Background color yellow, wing veins pale brown, stigma pale brown, wing membrane hyaline. Third segment of maxillary palpus longer than first antennal segment and wider than third antennal segment (Burdick, 1961).
Where is Xyela minor found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Coniferous areas |
| Range | Widespread |
What does Xyela minor eat?
The diet of the Xyela minor includes Larvae known from longleaf pine Pinus palustris (at least in FL), slash pine P. elliottii (at least in FL), Pinus virginiana , P. ponderosa , P. sabiniana , P. coulteri , and P. muricata (Burdick, 1961; Ebel, 1966). Adults known to feed on the pollen of willows ( Salix ), alders ( Alnus ), hazels ( Corylus ), and plums/cherries ( Prunus ) (Burdick, 1961)..