Agapostemon virescens Fabricius: Halictidae (Halictinae), Hymenoptera
(observations are by Robertson, Graenicher, Reed, Moure & Hurd, Evans, Clinebell, and Daly)

Acanthaceae: Justicia americana sn (Rb), Ruellia humilis cp np (Rb); Alismataceae: Sagittaria latifolia [stam sn] [pist sn] (Rb); Anacardiaceae: Rhus glabra [stam sn cp] [pist sn] (Rb); Apiaceae: Cicuta maculata sn (Rb), Zizia aurea sn (Rb); Asteraceae: Achillea millefolium (Re), Arctium lappa sn cp (Gr), Aster drummondii sn (Gr), Aster ericoides (Re), Aster laevis sn cp (Gr), Aster lanceolatus sn cp (Gr, Re), Aster lateriflorus sn cp (Rb, Gr), Aster nova-angliae sn (Gr), Aster ontarionis (Re), Aster oolentangiensis (Re), Aster pilosus sn cp fq (Rb), Aster turbinellus sn (Rb), Bidens aristosa sn cp (Rb), Cirsium altissimum sn (Rb), Cirsium arvense sn cp (Gr, Re), Cirsium discolor (MH), Cirsium vulgare sn cp (Rb, Gr), Coreopsis palmata (MH), Echinacea pallida sn (Rb, Cl), Echinacea purpurea sn cp (Rb, Cl), Erigeron philadelphicus sn cp (Rb, Gr), Eupatorium serotinum sn fq (Rb), Helenium autumnale sn (Rb, Gr), Helianthus annuus sn fq (Rb), Helianthus grosseserratus sn (Rb), Helianthus mollis sn (Rb), Helianthus pauciflorus (Re), Helianthus strumosus sn cp (Gr), Heliopsis helianthoides sn cp (Rb, Re), Krigia biflora sn cp (Rb), Liatris aspera (Re), Liatris pycnostachya sn cp fq (Rb, Cl), Oligoneuron rigidum (Ev), Pyrrhopappus carolinianus cp (MH, Da), Ratibida pinnata (Re), Rudbeckia hirta sn cp (Rb, Ev, Re), Silphium laciniatum sn cp (Rb), Silphium perfoliatum sn cp fq (Rb), Solidago nemoralis (Ev), Verbesina helianthoides sn (Rb), Vernonia fasciculata sn (Rb); Campanulaceae: Lobelia spicata sn (Rb); Caprifoliaceae: Symphoricarpos albus sn (Gr), Symphoricarpos occidentalis sn (MH, Gr); Commelinaceae: Tradescantia virginiensis cp (Rb); Convolvulaceae: Calystegia sepium sn (Rb), Ipomoea purpurea sn (Rb); Cornaceae: Cornus obliqua sn cp (Rb), Cornus racemosa sn cp (Rb); Dipsacaceae: Dipsacus fullonum sn (Rb); Ebenaceae: Diospyros virginiana [stam sn cp np] [pist sn np] (Rb); Fabaceae: Dalea purpurea sn cp fq (Rb, Re), Melilotus alba sn (Rb), Trifolium repens sn cp (Rb); Geraniaceae: Geranium maculatum sn (Rb); Hypericaceae: Hypericum sphaerocarpum cp (Rb); Lamiaceae: Blephilia ciliata sn cp fq (Rb), Blephilia hirsuta sn (Rb), Monarda fistulosa (Re, Cl), Nepeta cataria sn (Rb), Pycnanthemum pilosum sn fq (Rb), Stachys palustris sn (Rb), Teucrium canadense sn (Rb); Liliaceae: Camassia scilloides sn (Rb); Lythraceae: Lythrum alatum sn (Rb); Malvaceae: Malva neglecta sn cp fq (Rb); Nyctaginaceae: Mirabilis nyctaginea (Re); Nymphaeaceae: Nymphaea tuberosa cp fq (Rb); Onagraceae: Oenothera biennis cp (Rb), Oenothera pilosella cp fq np (Rb); Oxalidaceae: Oxalis violacea sn (Rb); Rhamnacae: Ceanothus americanus (MH); Rosaceae: Rosa blanda cp (Re), Rosa carolina cp (Rb), Rosa setigera cp fq (Rb), Rubus allegheniensis sn (Rb), Rubus flagellaris sn cp (Rb); Rubiaceae: Cephalanthus occidentalis sn (Rb), Houstonia longifolia (Ev); Rutaceae: Ptelea trifoliata sn (Rb); Scrophulariaceae: Linaria vulgaris sn np (Rb), Penstemon digitalis cp np (Rb), Penstemon grandiflorus cp np (Re), Scrophularia marilandica sn (Rb), Verbascum thapsus cp (Rb), Veronicastrum virginicum sn (Rb); Verbenaceae: Phyla lanceolata sn (Rb), Verbena stricta sn fq (Rb)

Hymenoptera is prey of:
Lagopus
Plectrophenax nivalis
Calidris maritima
Colaptes auratus
Araneae
Hylocichla mustelina
Baeolophus bicolor
Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Phrynosoma
Cyanocitta stelleri
Leucosticte atrata
Anthus spinoletta
Eremophila alpestris
Hymenoptera
Cicindelidae
Camponotus pennsylvanicus
Rodentia
Phasianidae
Timaliidae
Serpentes
Varanidae
Canis aureus
Erinaceus europaeus
bultul
Laniidae
Saxicoloides fulicata
Vulpes vulpes
Calcarius mccownii
Spermophilus
Calamospiza melanocorys
Asilidae
Orthoptera
Salvelinus fontinalis
Herpestes auropunctatus
Eleutherodactylus coqui
Eleutherodactylus richmondi
Eleutherodactylus portoricensis
Eleutherodactylus wightmanae
Eleutherodactylus eneidae
Todus mexicanus
Mimocichla plumbea
Margarops fuscatus
Anolis cuvieri
Anolis evermanni
Anolis stratulus
Anolis gundlachi
Leptodactylus albilabris
Myiarchus antillarum
Vireo latimeri
Nesospingus speculiferus
Icterus dominicensis
Vireo altiloquus
Seiurus aurocapillus
Bufo marinus
Chlorostilbon maugeus
Anthracothorax viridis
Mniotilta varia
Parula americana
Dendroica caerulescens
Dendroica discolor
Setophaga ruticilla
Diptera
Geotrygon montana
Margarops fuscus
Tyrannus dominicensis
Dendroica petechia
Trochilidae
Coereba flaveola
Anolis gingivinus
Anolis pogus
Hemiptera

Based on studies in:
Norway: Spitsbergen (Coastal)
Canada: Manitoba (Forest)
Russia (Agricultural)
India, Rajasthan Desert (Desert or dune)
Puerto Rico, El Verde (Rainforest)
USA: Illinois (Forest)
USA: Arizona (Forest, Montane)
USA: Montana (Tundra)
USA: California, Cabrillo Point (Grassland)
USA: Colorado (River)
Canada: Ontario, Mad River (River)

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

Hymenoptera preys on:
dead plants

flowers
Coccoidea
Lepidoptera
Acari
Amphipoda
fungi
Nematocera imagines
leaves
detritus
Aphididae
Cicadellidae
Coleoptera
alpine vegetation
Eleucine
Cyperus
Cenchrus
Isoptera
Hymenoptera
Auchenorrhyncha
Artemisia frigida
Bouteloua gracilis
Sphaeralcea coccinea
Psoralidium tenuiflorum
Heterotheca canescens
Gutierrezia
Ratibida columnifera
Helianthus annuus
Cleome serrulata
Atriplex canescens
Picradeniopsis oppositifolia
Opuntia macrorhiza
Senecio vulgaris
Yucca glauca
black alate aphid
Platypena scabra
Acrosternum hilare
Hemiptera
Diptera
Phasmatidae
sap
pollen
nectar
seeds
Sternorrhyncha
nectar and floral
Vanessa cardui
Misumena vatia

Based on studies in:
Norway: Spitsbergen (Coastal)
USA: Illinois (Forest)
USA: Arizona (Forest, Montane)
USA: California, Cabrillo Point (Grassland)
New Zealand (Grassland)
Puerto Rico, El Verde (Rainforest)
Russia (Agricultural)
USA: Montana (Tundra)
India, Rajasthan Desert (Desert or dune)

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

Animal / parasitoid
solitary (usually) stroma of Cordyceps sphecocephala is parasitoid of Hymenoptera

In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Fungus / feeder
Hymenoptera feeds on spore mass of fruitbody of Phallus hadriani

Plant / pollenated
adult of Hymenoptera pollenates or fertilises flower of Coeloglossum viride

Animal / predator
leaf of Pinguicula vulgaris is predator of adult of Hymenoptera
Other: major host/prey

Catches in wings hold, release tension: bees
 

The wings of bees and other fast flying insects provide surges of power from tiny catches, which momentarily hold wings to build up tension and then suddenly release them.

   
  "Even greater frequency of wing beat is effected in some groups by fibrillar muscle, which contracts and relaxes with such near automatic and continuous rapidity, initiated by a single nervous impulse, that the wings are seen only as a mist of movement. In addition to this, brief surges of power may be achieved by the wings being momentarily held in their up or down position by tiny catches until the build up of tension causes them to be suddenly released. Changes of speed or direction are brought about by other sets of muscles." (Wootton 1984:38)
  Learn more about this functional adaptation.

Sensitivity encourages return to hive before storm: bees
 

Bees protect themselves from approaching storms by sensing electromagnetic waves.

       
  "Bees, for instance, are very responsive to electrical discharges in the air that occur just before a thunderstorm, ultimately causing lightning, which in turn generates electromagnetic waves. These waves stimulate bees to return swiftly to their hives and remain inside until the storm is over." (Shuker 2001:64)
  Learn more about this functional adaptation.

Fibers reinforce nests: wasps
 

Nests and honeycombs of wasps are sturdy because they incorporate fibers in a parallel pattern.

   
  "Reinforcement by the planned use of fibers, as in fiberglass or ferroconcrete, is also evident in the thin cardboard pillars of wasps' nests and honeycombs. In principle, these pillars consist of the same material as the rest of the structure. However, they derive their great strength from the fact that all the wood fibers are arranged in a parallel pattern. That is to say, the wasps instinctively take into consideration the strength requirements of their building materials while building their nests--and they do so with ingenious simplicity." (Tributsch 1984:10)
  Learn more about this functional adaptation.

Nest cells support heavy weights: bees and wasps
 

Hives of bees and wasps support heavy weights using hexagonal cells in offset positions.

   
  "The hexagonal cells of bees and wasps create an extraordinarily strong space-frame, in particular in the vertical bee comb with two cell layers back to back with half a cell's shift in the position to create a three-dimensional pyramidal structure. The extraordinary strength is exemplified by a comb 37 centimetres by 22.5 centimetres in size, which is made of 40 grams of wax but can contain about 1.8 kilograms of honey." (Pallasmaa 1995:81,101)

"A bees' honeycomb is one of the wonders of the world. Layer upon layer of hexagonal cells of identical size and shape are stacked together as precisely as if the bees had worked to a grid drawn on graph paper. But why should bees build hexagonal cells? Why should they not be square, like boxes, or circular?…As we have already noted, natural organization is economical, expending the least amount of energy and using the least material necessary for a task…Three-way junctions of 120° angles occur quite widely in nature, being the most economical angle for joining things together." (Foy and Oxford Scientific Films 1982:30)
  Learn more about this functional adaptation.

Exploding plug prevents mating: honeybee
 

The mating apparatus of male honeybees prevents other males from mating with the queen after them by acting as an exploding, detachable plug.

     
  "The mating apparatus of the male honeybee actually explodes and detaches, plugging the newly mated queen and preventing other males from mating with her." (Forsyth 1992:32)
  Learn more about this functional adaptation.

Construction pattern forms sturdy tubes: organ-pipe wasp
 

The nests of organ-pipe wasps are long sturdy tubes built from strands of mud in a herringbone pattern.

   
  "The inch-long female begins at the top with a ball of wet mud and applies it to the vertical surface, stretching it out into ropes braided into a herringbone pattern, creating a ^ built in two steps: first the /, working from bottom to top, then the \, again beginning at the bottom and joining its mirror image at the top." (Gould and Gould 2007:14)
  Learn more about this functional adaptation.

Collection Sites: world map showing specimen collection locations for Hymenoptera

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) Stats
                                                             

Specimen Records:	192,889
Specimens with Sequences:	139,005
Specimens with Barcodes:	119,753
Public Records:	27,782
Species:	18,293
Species With Barcodes:	15,051

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