Hymenoptera – Ants, bees & wasps
Buzzing brilliance… Wings with stings!
These fashionistas of the insect world proudly display their distinctive ‘waist’! Two pairs of membranous wings, intricate wing venation, and a distinct constriction known as a “waist” or petiole, defining features setting them apart in the insect world.
Their venomous stingers serve as both defensive mechanisms and communication tools. They exhibit two primary larval types: Symphyta, resembling caterpillars with distinguishable prolegs, and Apocrita, featuring legless grub-like larvae with a differentiated head.
The order’s ecological influence extends to nutrient cycling, making them key contributors to terrestrial ecosystems. As pollinators, bees contribute significantly to plant reproduction, while wasps and ants act as crucial predators, participating in pest control.
The social structures observed in many Hymenopteran colonies, particularly in ants and honeybees, highlight complex interactions and cooperation.
When honeybees sting, they release alarm pheromones that signal other bees to attack. However, this defense mechanism comes at a cost—the stinging bee dies, sacrificing itself for the greater good of the hive.
Did you know?
- Adult Hymenoptera showcase a wide size range, from the minute Mymaridae (0.5 mm) to the larger aculeate wasps, reaching up to 5 cm.
- They possess two pairs of functional wings, except for wingless (apterous) species. Their wings have fewer veins compared to most other insect groups, typically with rarely more than seven cross veins.
- Some Hymenoptera species, like certain ants and wasps, can reproduce through a phenomenon called parthenogenesis, where females can lay unfertilized eggs that develop into viable offspring.
- Some ant species “farm” aphids, protecting them from predators and in return, milking them for honeydew—a sweet, sugary substance excreted by aphids.
