Minnesota Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies
Order Hymenoptera |
Hymenoptera is the order of insects that is characterized by having two pairs of membranous wings and an ovipositor specialized for stinging or piercing. The order includes ants, bees, wasps, hornets, sawflies, and horntails. There are about 125,000 known species worldwide, about 18,000 species in more than 2,000 genera in North America north of Mexico. |
Recent Additions |
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Nomad bee (Nomada sp.) |
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There are more than 850 species of nomad bee (Nomada sp.) worldwide, more than 280 species in North America. Like other cuckoo bees (subfamily Nomadinae), nomad bees do not construct nests, but lay their eggs in the nests of ground-nesting bees. One to four eggs are laid in the cell wall of the host nest. The larvae have large, outward-facing, scissor-like mandibles. The first larva to emerge destroys all the other eggs, both those of the host and those of its own siblings. It consumes the pollen provisioned by its host, and emerges as an adult the same time as the host adults emerge. Nomad bees are usually black, black and red, or entirely red, with yellow, white, and/or red markings. Many species have red legs. The genus Nomada includes the only bees in North America that are entirely red. They have short, thin, and inconspicuous hairs on the body and no pollen-collecting hairs (scopa) on the hind legs. They look more like wasps than a bees. |
_02it.jpg "nomad bee (Nomada sp.)") |
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| Photo by Alfredo Colon | |||||
Downy yellowjacket |
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Downy yellowjacket (Vespula flavopilosa) is an uncommon, medium-sized, predatory, social wasp. It is found in the northeastern United States from Minnesota to Maine, south to Virginia, and along the Appalachian mountains to northern Georgia. It closely resembles eastern yellowjacket. It is thought by some to be a hybrid between eastern and common yellowjackets. Others suggest that it probably arose as a hybrid but now queens mate with drones of the same species. The overwintering queen emerges from hibernation in April or May. She builds a nest of 20 to 45 cells and cares for the grubs as they hatch. In about 30 days the workers emerge and take over nest building duties. Through spring and summer the queen produces a large number of worker wasps. In mid-summer, the nest grows exponentially, as more and more workers become available, ultimately with 3,500 to 15,000 cells. Only the new queens survive the winter, hibernating under loose tree bark, in a decaying stump, or in another sheltered location. In eastern North America, four yellowjacket species, common, downy, eastern, and German yellowjackets, closely resemble each other, making identification difficult. Downy yellowjacket is distinguished from the others by a continuous, uninterrupted yellow band on the face below the compound eye; and by the shape and pattern of black markings on the first and second abdominal segments. |
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| Photo by Bill Reynolds | |||||
Two-spotted bumble bee |
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Two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus) is small, colonial bumble bee. It is common in eastern North America and in Minnesota. It emerges very early in the spring and is active until mid-summer. Two-spotted bumble bee usually nests underground but sometimes in the cavity of a dead tree. Like other bumble bees, it will sting to protect itself or its nest. The stinger is not barbed and the bee can sting multiple times. It feeds on the pollen and nectar of flowers. It has a very long tongue that allows it to feed on nectar of plants with long corolla tubes. Two-spotted bumble bee is identified by the thorax which is yellow except for a small, round, black spot in the middle; the first abdominal segment is entirely yellow, the second has a broad, yellow, W-shaped spot in the middle, and the remaining (on the female) are all black; and the hairs on the back of the head are yellow. |
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| Photo by Christa Rittberg | |||||
Brown-belted bumble bee |
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Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis) is a small, very common, colonial, ground-nesting bumble bee. It is the second most common bumble bee in eastern North America, after only the common eastern bumble bee. It is less common in Minnesota and the other northernmost states. Bumble bees are the first bees out in the spring and the last bees out in the fall. Brown-belted bumble bees emerge earlier in the spring than most other bumble bees. They nest in the ground in small colonies of 50 or fewer individuals. Brown-belted bumble bee is identified by the thorax which is yellow except for a small, round, black spot in the middle; the first abdominal segment is entirely yellow; the second has a single yellow, narrowly U-shaped spot in the middle and a brown band that swoops around the yellow spot; and the remaining are all black. |
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| Photo by Christa Rittberg | |||||
Oak flake gall wasp |
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There are over 750 species of gall wasps (Family Cynipidae) in North America. They are all tiny and look pretty much alike. Fortunately, most can be identified by the appearance, location, and host species of the abnormal growths (galls) their larvae produce. Oak flake gall wasp (Neuroterus floccosus) galls are found on the underside of leaves of bur oak and swamp white oak. They occur singly though there are usually several galls on any one leaf. They are hemispherical, thickly hairy, and ⅛″ to 3 ⁄16″ in diameter including the hairs. The hairs are white at first but soon turn brown. Each gall contains a single chamber and a single wasp larva. It is revealed on the upper leaf surface as a smooth blister-like bump. |
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Other Recent Additions |
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curled rose sawfly (Allantus cinctus) ichneumon wasp (Cosmoconus spp.) terminal mummy wasp (Aleiodes terminalis) ichneumon wasp (Cratichneumon spp.) podzol mound ant (Formica podzolica) |
_02it.jpg "cuckoo wasp (Elampus sp.)") |
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| Photo by Alfredo Colon | |||||
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agile long-horned bee (Melissodes agilis) |
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alternate cuckoo-leaf-cutter bee (Coelioxys alternatus) |
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American ant (Myrmica americana) |
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American bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus) |
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bellflower resin bee (Megachile campanulae) |
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black-and-gold bumble bee (Bombus auricomus) |
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black-and-gray leaf-cutter bee (Megachile melanophaea) |
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black-headed ash sawfly (Tethida cordigera) |
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blood-red ant (Formica sanguinea) |
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blue orchard bee (Osmia lignaria lignaria) |
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blue-winged wasp (Scolia dubia) |
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brown-headed ash sawfly (Tomostethus multicinctus) |
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chalcid wasp (Melittobia spp.) |
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cherry gall wasp (Cynips quercusfolii) |
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common little leaf-cutter bee (Megachile brevis) |
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common sawfly (Macrophya flavolineata) |
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common sawfly (Macrophya fumator) |
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common sawfly (Macrophya tibiator) |
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common sawfly (Monophadnoides spp.) |
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common yellowjacket (Vespula alascensis) |
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confusing bumble bee (Bombus perplexus) |
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constrained cuckoo carder bee (Stelis coarctatus) |
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cornfield ant (Lasius alienus) |
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cuckoo wasp (Chrysura smaragdula) |
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cuckoo wasp (Family Chrysididae) |
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cuckoo wasp (Hedychrum confusum) |
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cuckoo wasp (Muesbeckidium obsoletum) |
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cuckoo wasp (Trichrysis doriae) |
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dusky birch sawfly (Croesus latitarsus) |
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eastern black carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) |
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eight-toothed cuckoo leaf-cutter bee (Coelioxys octodentata) |
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elm leafminer (Fenusa ulmi) |
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European paper wasp (Polistes dominula) |
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European pine sawfly (Neodiprion sertifer) |
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flat-tailed leaf-cutter bee (Megachile mendica) |
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forest yellowjacket (Vespula acadica) |
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frigid leaf-cutter bee (Megachile frigida) |
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fuzzy mound ant (Formica lasioides) |
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giant ichneumon (Megarhyssa atrata) |
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giant ichneumon (Megarhyssa macrurus) |
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golden northern bumble bee (Bombus fervidus) |
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gouty oak gall wasp (Callirhytis quercus punctata) |
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ground hornet (Vespula vidua) |
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hawthorn leafminer (Profenusa canadensis) |
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high noon ant (Forelius pruinosus) |
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Hunt’s bumble bee (Bombus huntii) |
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ichneumon wasp (Cosmoconus canadensis) |
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ichneumon wasp (Cratichneumon annulatipes) |
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ichneumon wasp (Cratichneumon paratus) |
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ichneumon wasp (Cratichneumon pteridis) |
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ichneumon wasp (Cratichneumon sublatus) |
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ichneumon wasp (Cratichneumon tyloidifer) |
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ichneumon wasp (Cratichneumon unifasciatorius) |
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ichneumon wasp (Cratichneumon vescus) |
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ichneumon wasp (Cratichneumon vinnulus) |
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ichneumon wasp (Cratichneumon w-album) |
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ichneumon wasp (Family Ichneumonidae) |
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introduced pine sawfly (Diprion similis) |
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jumping oak gall wasp (Neuroterus saltatorius) |
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larch sawfly (Pristiphora erichsonii) |
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larger empty oak apple wasp (Amphibolips quercusinanis) |
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light bronze mound ant (Formica subaenescens) |
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little black ant (Monomorium minimum) |
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long-horned bee (Melissodes confusa) |
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long-horned bee (Melissodes coreopsis) |
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long-horned bee (Melissodes denticulatus) |
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long-horned bee (Melissodes druriellus) |
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long-horned bee (Melissodes grindelliae) |
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long-horned bee (Melissodes illatus) |
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long-horned bee (Melissodes menuachus) |
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long-horned bee (Melissodes pallidisignatus) |
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long-horned bee (Melissodes subagilis) |
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long-horned bee (Melissodes subillatus) |
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long-horned bee (Melissodes trinodis) |
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long-horned bee (Melissodes wheeleri) |
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maple petiole borer (Caulocampus acericaulis) |
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Mary’s long-necked ant (Dolichoderus mariae) |
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masked bee (Hylaeus sp.) |
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mossy rose gall wasp (Diplolepis rosae) |
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mottled long-necked ant (Dolichoderus plagiatus) |
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mountain ash sawfly (Pristiphora geniculata) |
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New World mound ant (Formica neogagates) |
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northern red wood ant (Formica obscuriventris) |
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oak gall wasp (Neuroterus exiguissimus) |
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odorous house ant (Tapinoma sessile) |
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orange-bellied mummy wasp (Aleiodes abdominalis) |
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pale mound ant (Formica pallidefulva) |
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pear sawfly (Caliroa cerasi) |
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pitted mound ant (Formica fossaceps) |
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potter wasp (Ancistrocerus adiabatus) |
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potter wasp (Ancistrocerus antilope) |
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potter wasp (Ancistrocerus catskill) |
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potter wasp (Ancistrocerus parietum) |
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potter wasp (Ancistrocerus waldenii) |
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potter wasp (Eumenes crucifera) |
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potter wasp (Euodynerus foraminatus) |
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potter wasp (Euodynerus leucomelas) |
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pugnacious leaf-cutter bee (Megachile pugnata) |
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red-bearded mound ant (Formica neorufibarbis) |
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redheaded pine sawfly (Neodiprion lecontei) |
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resin bee (Heriades carinata) |
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roseslug sawfly (Endelomyia aethiops) |
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ruddy slave-making mound ant (Formica rubicunda) |
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rusty patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) |
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Sanderson’s bumble bee (Bombus sandersoni) |
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sculptured resin bee (Megachile sculpturalis) |
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short-spined ant (Myrmica brevispinosa) |
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silky ant (Formica fusca group) |
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silvery field ant (Formica argentea) |
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small-handed leaf-cutter bee (Megachile gemula) |
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smaller carpenter ant (Camponotus nearcticus) |
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smaller yellow ant (Lasius claviger) |
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Taschenberg’s long-necked ant (Dolichoderus taschenbergi) |
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thief ant (Solenopsis molesta) |
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thimbleberry stem gall wasp (Diastrophus kincaidii) |
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thistle long-horned bee (Melissodes desponsus) |
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tiny crazy ant (Nylanderia parvula) |
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tiny-queened field ant (Lasius minutus) |
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translucent oak gall wasp (Amphibolips nubilipennis) |
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two-spotted longhorned bee (Melissodes bimaculata) |
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velvet ant (Dasymutilla sp.) |
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western thatching ant (Formica obscuripes) |
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white pine sawfly (Neodiprion pinetum) |
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wide-faced ant (Myrmica latifrons) |
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wide-footed field ant (Lasius latipes) |
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willow sawfly (Nematus ventralis) |
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winter ant (Prenolepis imparis) |
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wool-bearing gall wasp (Andricus quercuslanigera) |
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yellow shadow ant (Lasius aphidicola) |
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yellow-banded bumble bee (Bombus terricola) |
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yellowheaded spruce sawfly (Pikonema alaskensis) |
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yellowjacket (Vespula sp.) |
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_03.jpg "ant (Family Formicidae)")
_02.jpg "common_sawfly_(Tenthredinidae)")
_02.jpg "cuckoo_wasp_(Elampus_sp)")
_01.jpg "digger bee (Anthophora terminalis)")
_02.jpg "grass-carrying wasp (mexicana)")
_01.jpg "ichneumon wasp (Aritranis director)")
_01.jpg "Ichneumon Wasp (Cosmoconus sp.)")
_01.jpg "ichneumon wasp (Cratichneumon spp.)")
_02.jpg "nomad bee (Nomada sp.)")
_01.jpg "spider wasp (Caliadurgus fasciatellus)")
_01.jpg "thread-waisted wasp (Sphecinae)")
_04.jpg "wood ant (Formica sp.)")
_01.jpg "yellow-faced bee (Hylaeus sp.)")
No Species Page Yet?
If you do not see a linked page for an insect in the list at left, or the insect does not appear in the list, you can still upload a photo or video as an email attachment or report a sighting for that insect. Click on one of the buttons below and type in the common name and/or scientific name of the insect in your photo, video, or sighting. A new page will be created for that insect featuring your contribution.
Capitalization of Common Names
Insect scientific names are governed by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). Vernacular (common) names are not. In an attempt to “assure the uniformity of (common) names of common insects” the Entomological Society of America (ESA) published Common Names of Insects and Related Organisms. ESA has no rule or guideline that addresses capitalization of common names. However, the database of common names published by ESA does not capitalize common names. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) also uses uncapitalized common names. Most other sources, including ITIS, BAMONA, Odonata Central, and the Peterson Field Guides, capitalize common insect names. MinnesotaSeasons.com will adhere to the convention followed by ESA and NCBI.
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