Apocrita

Common Wasp ( Vespula vulgaris)

  • Legimmen ( Terebrantia )
  • Stechimmen ( Aculeata )

The waist wasps ( Apocrita ), also called Schnürwespen, the most important subordination of Hymenoptera are (Hymenoptera ) with numerous species. The sawflies ( Symphyta ) are not as diverse and have plenty of fewer species. Both groups usually have translucent wings, but only the waist wasps have a deep constriction between the first and second segment of the abdomen ( tummy), the so-called wasp waist. This makes the abdomen extremely agile - what is noted not only for painful bites.

Wasps, ants and bees

Worldwide there are about 100,000 species so far known. Although in Europe around 10,000 species are " only " here no animal group is more diverse than this insect order.

Large families are the types of parasitic wasps, and the wasps, which include the rights wasps ( Vespinae ) belong, as well as the bees and wasps grave ( Apoidea ).

Worldwide, one about 30,000 species of bees ( Apiformes ), which include, among other things, the bumble bees ( Bombus) belong. Furthermore, all ant species include ( Formicidae ) to the waist wasps.

Construction of wasp waist

The waist wasps have in contrast to the more primitive sawflies ( Symphyta ) the characteristic abdominal incision (the " wasp waist "). This incision is always present, but may be covered by fur hair, for example, the bumblebees. However, it only disconnects seemingly chest (thorax) and abdomen ( tummy). So Anatomically form the thorax and the first abdominal segment ( propodeum ) an entity that is referred to as mesosoma. The remainder of the abdomen is known and comprises Metasoma Stielchenglied ( petiole ), which only occurs in some sub-groups ( for example, formic ) and the gaster.

The size of the animals ranging from tiny Zehrwespen ( 0.2 millimeter parasites ) to the hornets (Vespa ) with a body length of the part about five centimeters.

The wing wingspan also varies strongly with 1 to 100 millimeters; the "giant flier" is native to South America species Pepsis heros.

Due to the large number of species of Hymenoptera has the crowd not only very diverse ways of life, but also multiform morphology. Your magnocellular membranous wing pairs are moving in the same direction; often the wings can be connected by edge structures. However, for some families and many species they are quite reduced (as with lice and ant workers ) or only temporarily in queens and males available.

Other characteristics are large compound eyes ( thousands of elongated photoreceptor cells ) and three simple eyes ( ocelli ). The mouthparts (pine ), also called mandibles, biting and chewing tools can be used as (as in Real wasps ) or as a leak or suction tools designed to be ( as in bees ).

Way of life

The social behaviors ranging from " hermits " and parasites to groups and state building. The males develop parthenogenetically from unfertilized eggs, females hatch from fertilized eggs, however. The larvae are often supplied in brood care.

Among the Apocrita includes some sophisticated, state-forming families. Such animal communities are found in almost all ants ( Formicinae ), skipjack wasps ( Vespinae ) and bees ( Apiformes ).

The systematics of the waist wasps

The only animals within the Holometabola insects the female Hymenoptera have an ovipositor ( ovipositor ). For many types of wasp waist of this ovipositor is converted into a military sting. A distinction is therefore Legimmen ( Terebrantia ) and Stechimmen ( Aculeata ).

  • Partial order Legimmen ( Terebrantia )
  • Superfamily Trigonaloidea
  • Superfamily Megalyroidea
  • Superfamily Evanioidea
  • Superfamily Ceraphronoidea
  • Superfamily Gallwespenartige ( Cynipoidea )
  • Superfamily Zehrwespenartige ( Proctotrupoidea )
  • About family jewel wasps ( Chalcidoidea )
  • Superfamily Mymarommatoidea (formerly reckoned among the Chalcidoidea )
  • Superfamily Stephanoidea
  • Superfamily parasitic wasps behaved ( Ichneumonoidea )
  • Partial order Stechimmen ( Aculeata )
  • Superfamily Chrysidoidea
  • Superfamily Vespoidea (including ants)
  • Superfamily bees and wasps grave ( Apoidea )
72524
de