Virtual Exhibit on Canada´s Biodiversity

	Metamorphoses: complete North American Families: 78 North American Species: 17200	Hymenoptera Ants, bees, wasps and sawflies Feeding Habits: Hymneoptera can be predaceous on other insects and spiders, parasitoids of other insects or spiders, or phytophagous. Some species steal food from nests prepared by other Hymneoptera. These are known as kleptoparasites.
	Description: Hymenoptera have four wings that are joined together by a row of very small hooks, called hamuli. The wings are membranous and have relatively few veins. The front wings are much larger than the hind wings. Some Hymenoptera are wingless. In all Hymenoptera except the sawflies, the abdomen is joined to the thorax by a very narrow connection. The antennae are usually long with many segments. The female ovipositor is usually well-developed and is modified into a sting in many families. Hymenoptera have chewing mouthparts.
	Comments: This order contains many beneficial species such as bees that pollinate crops and provide honey and wax. Many Hymenoptera are also beneficial parasites of pest insects. Many groups of Hymenoptera such as the ants, bees and some wasps have complex social organization. Some Hymenoptera are also pests. The sting of many Hymenoptera can be very painful to humans and sometimes even fatal to persons who are allergic to their venom.

	Families in this Order
	Apidae: Bumble bees, honey bees, and orchid bees Size: 10 to 25 mm North American Species: 47
	Braconidae: Braconid wasps Size: 2 to 15 mm North American Species: 1700
	Chalcidoidea (Superfamily): chalcid wasps, jewel wasps Size: 1 to 8 mm North American Species: 2200
	Chrysididae: cuckoo wasps Size: 2 to 12 mm North American Species: 231
	Cimbicidae: Cimbicid sawflies Size: 15 to 25 mm North American Species: 12
	Cynipoidea (Superfamily): Gall wasps Size: 1 to 30 mm North American Species: over 800
	Diprionidae: Conifer sawflies Size: to mm North American Species: 45
	Formicidae: Ants Size: 1 to 25 mm North American Species: 590
	Halictidae: Halictid bees Size: 5 to 15 mm North American Species: 500
	Megachilidae: Leafcutting bees Size: 10 to 20 mm North American Species: 610
	Pelecinidae: Pelecinid wasps Size: 20 to 70 mm North American Species: 1
	Pompilidae: Spider wasps Size: 10 to 25 mm North American Species: 282
	Siricidae: Horntails, wood wasps Size: 25 to 50 mm North American Species: 19
	Sphecidae: Thread-waisted wasps, mud-daubers Size: 2 to 40 mm North American Species: 102
	Tenthredinidae: Common sawflies Size: 3 to 20 mm North American Species: 840
	Vespidae: Paper wasps, yellowjackets, hornets Size: 10 to 30 mm North American Species: 315

HymenopteraAnts, bees, wasps and sawflies

Families in this Order

Hymenoptera
Ants, bees, wasps and sawflies