|
|
Bees, Wasps, Sawflies and Ants (order Hymenoptera)
Taxonomic classification categories are valid according to
the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
Information about evolution and history is based on
Grimaldi and Engel (2005). Where indicated, Norman F. Johnson, Professor of Entomology and Director of the
C.A. Triplehorn Insect Collection at
Ohio State University verified identifications.
The general consensus is that bees (unlike wasps) are a
"monophyletic" group, meaning that they and they alone come from a certain
common ancestor: "bees" are more closely related than the various "wasps," and
are more closely related to some "wasps" than are other "wasps." Most bee
species are "solitary" bees, i.e., females of those species are designed to
reproduce. The main distinction between these categories is that bees feed
on honey which they create from gathered flower nectar, while wasps are
predators, parasites or parasitoids (parasites that kill their host, usually
another much larger animal that they live inside as larvae).
Web-spinning Sawfly (family Pamphiliidae, superfamily Megalodontoidea, suborder Symphyta)
The Pamphiliidae family first appeared about 190 million years
ago, during the Jurassic Period, 40 million years before Pangaea, the original
continent, started to break up, according to Grimaldi
and Engel (2005).
Horntail
(family Siricidae, superfamily
Siricoidea, suborder Symphyta)
This is also a very old family, which first appeared about the
same time: 190 million years ago.
 |
| Horntail (Tremex columba), Penny's Bend, Durham County, NC,
6/4/06. This was an especially large insect, at least 2 inches long.
|
Cimbicid Sawfly
(family Cimbicidae,
superfamily Tenthredinoidea, suborder Symphyta)
Not all sawflies are members of unusually ancient
families. The Cimbicidae first appeared about 60 million years ago.
 |
| Sawfly (Cimbex Americana), Indian Creek trail in Chatham County, NC,
on 5/3/05. Thanks to Prof. Norman F. Johnson for family ID. |
Bees
(superfamily Apoidea, suborder
Apocrita)
Most of these bees are fly-sized solitary bees. Solitary bees are those whose females
are all genetically capable of reproducing. They are frequently found together with
Large Bee Flies (Bombylius major), which parasitize their larvae. Social
bees, those that live in colonies that each rely on a single queen bee for
reproduction, include the Honeybees, Bumblebees, Stingless Bees (not pictured),
and some Sweat Bees (which have small colonies and minimal size differences
between queens and workers).
Bees may not be the most common pollinators, but they are
the most significant economically because they are the most efficient, in part
because of their special pollen-gathering hairs and "pollen baskets" which carry
large amounts of pollen.
Performing formal identifications of solitary bees from
photos is hard because they are so closely related, and therefore such identifications depend heavily on very small details, such as wing
venation. Perhaps one can distinguish the long-tongued bees (the
Megachilidae and the familiar Apidae) from the short-tongued bees (the
Colletidae, Halictidae, Andrenidae, Strenotridae, and Melittidae) by the types
of flowers that they visit.
Bee Phylogeny at Cornell University provides detailed
descriptions of recent bee phylogeny research using morphological, DNA, and
fossil data.
Sweat Bees (Halictidae family)
These are short-tongued bees, which these photos
illustrate: they prefer composite flowers and "flat" individual ones.
They are called "sweat bees" because of their reputation for landing on people
and drinking their sweat.
Some of these bees are social, living in small colonies,
i.e., with less than a dozen members. There is a lot of diversity in this
respect, so they are of special interest to evolutionary biologists.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Sweat Bee (Augochlora
pura),
Eno River SP, Old Cole Mill
Road access, 5/29/05. This green bee is one of the most
obvious members of this family; however, most Halictidae are not green,
although they are less hairy than other bees. |
Sweat bee (Augochlora
pura), Durham, NC, 7/1/08 |
Sweat bee, Durham,
9/28/06 |
Sweat bee (Augochlora
pura), Indian Creek Trail,
a Jordan Lake Game Land, Chatham County, NC, 7/7/06 |
Sweat bee (Augochlora
pura) on a Smooth Coneflower,
Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 6/30/06 |
 |
 |
 |
| Sweat bee,
Moses Cone Memorial Park,
Watauga County, NC, 8/8/06 |
Sweat bee,
Moses Cone Memorial Park,
Watauga County, NC, 8/8/06 |
Sweat bee,
Moses Cone Memorial Park,
Watauga County, NC, 8/8/06 |
 |
|
|
| Sweat Bee (Lasioglossum
sisymbrii), Fayetteville, NC, 7/16/08. This was a big bee, about
an inch long. The Halictidae family is a very diverse one!
Photo by Kathryn Cox. |
|
|
 |
 |
| Halictid Bees
(Agapostemon splendens),
Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, NC, 7/31/06. |
Mining Bees
(Andrenidae family)
These are short-tongued bees solitary bees, although they
apparently build their nests in holes in the ground close to one another in the
early spring when pollen is first available. As is the case with all
flower-visiting bees, they have long hairs over many parts of their bodies.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Andrenid bee (probably Lasioglossum
genus), Penny's Bend, Durham County, NC, 3/16/06.
This was a member of a very fast-moving cluster of bees near the ground on a wooded
trail. This bee seemed ill or injured, otherwise this photo would
have been impossible to take! This bee was about
½ inch long. |
Andrenid Bee, Durham, NC, 3/9/07.
Hundreds of these bees were flying around close together over ground
covered with pine needle mulch, eventually crawling down to the ground
in various places. On 3/22, only a few bees remained in this place. |
Andrenid Bee in flight, Durham, NC, 3/7/07 |
Andrenid Bee, Durham, NC, 3/9/07.
This bee wandered onto the asphalt path, apparently unable to fly
because of what seemed to be clay on its thorax. |
Mining Bees, Johnston Mill Nature
Preserve, Orange County, NC. Members of this species are supposed to be solitary bees, but these were all struggling
to get down the same hole. |
Andrenid Bee, Boone, Watauga County, NC,
8/7/06 |
 |
 |
 |
| Andrenid bee (Panurginae subfamily?), Durham,
5/3/05. Thanks to Eric Eaton for IDs of this bee and the other two
to the right of it. |
Andrenid bee (Panurginae subfamily), White Pines Nature Preserve, Chatham
County, NC, 4/16/06. This bee was about
¼ inch long. The tiny fly was barely
visible to me without the camera's magnifying lens. |
Andrenid bee (subfamily Panurginae), Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham
County, NC, 4/5/06. This flower was about
⅓ inch across. |
Leafcutter Bees
(Megachilidae family)
These are long-tongued bees, able to visit longer,
skinnier flowers. There's nothing obviously "mega" about them: except for the all-black
bee below, they are very small, averaging less than half an inch long.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Megachilid Bee (genus Coelioxys), NC Botanical Garden, 7/2/05.
Thanks to Eric Eaton for ID. |
Megachilid Bee, Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange
County, NC, 6/7/06 |
Megachilid Bee, Durham, NC,
8/19/07 |
Megachilid Bee (Megachile genus), Penny's Bend Nature
Preserve, Durham County, NC, 6/30/06 |
Megachilid Bee, Carolina Beach State Park, New Hanover
County, NC, 10/13/06 |
Bee (genus Megachile, family Megachilidae), Carolina Beach State Park, New Hanover County, NC, 10/19/05.
Unlike the other bees on this page, this one was large, perhaps an inch
long. Thanks to Eric Eaton for ID info, as well as info that these
family members are the natural prey of the Megachilidae.
Note:
this picture is covered by a
copyleft regulation
rather than a copyright. |
Apidae family
These are long-tongued bees. Eric Eaton says the Nomada
genus bees below prey
on other bees. No wonder I've never seen one visit a flower or bear
pollen!
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Nomada genus solitary bee, Lake Crabtree
County Park, 3/18/06. Note the right wing. |
Nomada species bee hovering, Penny's Bend Nature
Preserve, Durham County, NC, 4/5/06. |
Solitary bee (probably Nomada genus), Penny's Bend Nature Preserve,
Durham County, NC, 4/20/07. This bee was the size of an
average ant and in frantic motion. |
Nomada species bee, Penny's Bend Nature
Preserve, 5/7/07. |
We depend on honeybees for pollination of most fruit,
vegetable and nut crops. Because honeybees are dying in significant
numbers, beekeepers predict disaster for humans, according to
http://www.allheadlinenews.com, article by Ihuoma Ezeh.
 |
 |
 |
| Honeybee (Apis mellifera, subfamily Apinae, family Apidae), Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh, Wake
County, NC, 3/17/06. This bee was at least twice as long as any of
the bees on this page except for the Carpenter Bee and the Lassioglossum
sisymbrii Sweat Bee. |
Honeybee,
Duke Gardens, Durham, NC, 7/21/07.
The pollen of this moss rose was enough to cover several bees. |
Carpenter Bee
(Xylocopa virginica, Xylocopinae
subfamily, Apidae family),
Eno River SP, Orange County, NC,
4/2/06. Valid taxa according the the ITIS. This large
bee is well-known to all, and dreaded by owners of wooden houses.
Thanks to Eric Eaton for ID. |
Ichneumonid Wasps
(family
Ichneumonidae, superfamily Ichneumonidea,
suborder Apocrita)
We don't usually think of wasps as being especially
beautiful, but this family has more than its share of bright colors and striking
patterns. What these parasitoids do to their prey is not, however:
Charles Darwin cited them in particular in his remarks to botanist Asa Gray
about how his faith in God's goodness was tested by the torment animals inflicted
on one another.
IDs of family of wasps in first row thanks to Prof. Norman F.
Johnson.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Durham, 10/28/05 |
Ichneumonid Wasp, Ft. Fisher
Recreational Area, New Hanover County, NC, 12/3/07 |
Ichneumonid wasp, Falls Lake State Park, Wake County,
NC, 1/6/07 |
Greenville, Pitt County, NC, 11/16/05.
Prof. Johnson is not sure about the ID of this wasp, but says it is
probably an Ichneumonid. |
Durham, 9/12/05 |
Durham, 10/28/05 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Durham, 10/29/05 |
Eno River State Park, 11/7/05. My guess is Ichnemonid. |
Ichnemonid Wasp,
Penny's Bend Nature Preserve,
Durham County, NC, 4/5/06. ID thanks to
Dr. Doug Yanega of the University of California at Riverside.
|
Ichnemonid Wasp,
Durham, 4/14/06. ID
thanks to
Dr. Doug Yanega of the University of California at Riverside.
Photo taken at night. |
Giant Ichneumonid wasp, subfamily Rhyssinae.
This wasp's ovipositor was easily six inches long.
Moses
Cone Memorial Park, Watauga County, NC, 8/8/06 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Durham, 10/1/05 |
Another view of the wasp on the left. |
Ichneumonid Wasp,
Durham, 8/28/06.
Very likely the same species as the wasp on the left. Taken at
night. |
Ichneumonid Wasp, Durham, NC 9/16/06.
Taken at night. Same species as those on left. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Ichneumonid
Wasp,
Eno River State Park, Orange County, NC, 10/9/06 |
Ichneumonid wasp, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham
County, NC 4/20/06 |
Ichneumonid wasp, Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange
County, NC, 6/16/07 |
Ichneumonid wasp, Durham, NC, 4/8/08.
Photo taken at night. |
Brachonid Wasps
(family
Braconidae, superfamily Ichneumonoidea,
suborder Apocrita)
Pelecinid Wasps
(family Pelecinidae,
superfamily Pelecinoidea, suborder Apocrita)
 |
 |
 |
| Pelecinid Wasp,
Pelecinus polyturator, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve,
Durham County, NC, 8/13/06 |
Pelecinid
Wasp (Pelecinus
polyturator), Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 9/29/06 |
Cuckoo Wasps
(family Chrysididae,
superfamily Bethyloidea, suborder Apocrita)
According to Prof. Johnson, there are are many genera
other than Chrysis, Cleptes, and Mesitiopterus in this family (but perhaps not
officially classified).
These wasps evolved about 140 million years ago, during
the early Cretaceous Period.
 |
 |
| Cuckoo Wasp
(possibly genus Holopyga), Duke
Gardens, 9/17/05. Chrysis seems to be most likely, however. Prof. Johnson OKed this
family ID. |
Cuckoo Wasp,
Ft.
Fisher Aquarium (outside), New Hanover County, NC, 6/26/08 |
Thread-waisted Wasps
(family Sphecidae, superfamily Sphecoidea,
suborder Apocrita)
Thanks to Prof. Johnson for family ID.
The Sphecidae first appeared about 140 million years ago.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Thread-waisted Caterpillar Hunter
(Ammophila genus), Raulston Arboretum, Wake County, NC, 9/23/05.
|
Eremnophila aureonotata, mating pair, Durham, 7/28/03.
These are Sphecidae according to the
University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Thanks to Josh Rose
for genus and species ID. |
Eremnophila aureonotata,
Durham, NC, 7/7/08, trying to access nectar of Trumpet Vine flower buds. |
Eremnophila aureonotata, NC Botanical
Garden, Orange County, NC, 8/28/06 |
Digger Wasps
(family
Crabronidae, superfamily Sphecoidea,
suborder Apocrita)
 |
| Sand wasps (Bicyrtes genus, subfamily Bembicinae), Carolina Beach State
Park, New Hanover County, NC, 6/23/07,
struggling to get into one little hole. |
Scoliid Wasps
(genus Scolia, family Scoliidae, superfamily Vespoidea,
infraorder Aculeata, suborder Apocrita)
 |
|
|
|
Wasp (Scolia
nobilitata). NOTE: The ITIS does not list the species nobilitata. |
|
|
Spider Wasps
(family Pompilidae, superfamily Vespoidea, suborder Apocrita)
The Pompilidae evolved about 105 million years ago.
 |
 |
 |
| Spider Wasp (Arachnospila
genus), Johnston's Mill, Orange County, NC, 2/3/06 |
Spider Wasp in action, Eno River SP, Old
Cole Mill Road access, Orange County, NC, 4/28/06. This wasp
dragged this spider at least five feet while I watched. |
Spider wasp
attempting to drag a spider across pavement, Durham, NC, 5/13/08 |
Vespid Wasps
(family Vespidae, superfamily Vespoidea, suborder Apocrita)
The Vespidae family evolved about 140 million years ago.
 |
 |
 |
| Possibly a
European Hornet (Vespa crabro), Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC,
6/10/06 |
Potter Wasp
(Eumenes fraternus), Durham, 9/28/09.
This wasp is apparently mimicked by the
Sphiximorpha
willistoni flower fly. |
Potter Wasp,
Penny's Bend Nature Preserve,
Durham County, NC, 4/20/07. |
Mystery Wasps
 |
 |
| Mystery wasp, Durham, 6/28/06.
Maybe a braconid wasp. |
Mystery wasp, NC Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 8/28/06.
Maybe a vespoid wasp. |
Velvet Ants
(family Mutillidae,
superfamily Scolioidea, suborder Apocrita)
The females parasitize bee larvae by laying eggs on them.
They are generally considered to be wasps because of their behavior but their
superfamily name implies that
they aren't very distant relatives of ants! The Cowkiller is named for its
nasty sting, one informally hypothesized to be bad enough to kill a cow.
The Mutillidae family evolved relatively recently, about
45-70 million years ago.
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Female
Velvet Ant (Dasymutilla alesia), White
Pines Nature Preserve, Chatham County, NC, 4/16/06. ID thanks to
Kevin Williams, a velvet ant specialist. It is remarkably
similar to the Dasymutilla vesta shown on
Marshall (2006), p. 579. |
Cowkiller
(Dasymutilla occidentalis),
Mason
Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 9/1/07. See other
Hymenopterans (bees, wasps and ants). |
Perhaps a Cowkiller,
a velvet ant which is normally red and black. It was
hunched over, trying to hide. NOTE: the two small white spots which
appear to be on this insect's back are actually on the ground: it has a
typically skinny wasp waist. |
Velvet ant (Timulla floridensis).
This velvet ant was much smaller than the others pictured, about the
size of a carpenter ant. |
|
|
Ants
(family Formicidae, superfamily
Scolioidea, suborder Apocrita)
The Formicidae family evolved about 140 million years ago.
 |
 |
 |
| Worker ant subduing a winged termite, Occoneechee Mountain
Natural Area, Orange County, NC, 4/9/06 |
Worker ants carrying a larva and eggs, Durham, 4/24/06 |
Worker ant carrying a larva. |
 |
 |
 |
| Winged
Yellow Ants (Acanthomyops
interjectus), Durham, 5/31/06. The queens are brown, while the
workers are yellow. |
These winged
Yellow
Ants
came up out of the ground, crawled up
plants in this meadow and flew into the air. Southern Village, Orange
County, NC, 11/13/07 |
Yellow Ant,
with a red parasite egg on its right hind leg |
 |
|
|
| Johnston's Mill, Orange County, NC, 2/3/06. This
ant was wandering around rocks in New Hope Creek. |
|
|
|
© 2006-2008 Dorothy E. Pugh,
except where noted on this page.
