Wasps, bees, ants - Wenatchee Naturalist

Order Hymenoptera – wasps, bees, ants

Hymenoptera means “membrane wing”

Traits:

Great diversity in habitat and behavior, includes the social insects
Most adults winged with 2 pair of membranous wings with few veins
Many have a constricted “waist” between thorax and abdomen.
Most, have chewing mouthparts (some, modified to lap or suck fluids)
In most bees, predatory wasps, and some ants, oviposter modified to a stinger.
Social behavior ranges from solitary to a complex class-based organization.
In many species- adults feed on pollen and nectar; others prey on other insects for the purpose of providing food for developing larvae.
Many species have larvae that are internal or external parasites on other insects.
Many are important pollinators, and maintain plant diversity and crop production.