Hymenoptera ~ Bees, Wasps, Ants

This large order has some groups which, while not always easy to tell apart, do have specific characteristics to divide them up. They can be confused with flies. Many species have a venomous sting. The Hymenoptera contain the only true social insects other than termites. Adults have chewing mouthparts, and bees and wasps also have tongues adapted to obtain nectar, pollen, or other sweet liquids, their primary food. The larvae of bees and some wasps feed on pollen and other plant material, but most larvae in this order are carnivorous. All Hymenopterans have four wings, although most ants have lost theirs or use them only for a brief time. The wings are usually clear but can be dark colored or have colored scales, and are generally slender in shape. Members of this order develop through complete metamorphosis; the larvae are rarely seen as they are frequently concealed, either within the bodies of hosts, inside plant stems, or in nests. Some sawflies feed in the open on plants and look much like Lepidopteran caterpillars. Hymenopterans have a pupal stage before emerging as adults. Size ranges from minute to rather large. Some wasps may be up to 40 mm in length. Due to the very small size of many individuals in this order, identification can be a nightmare. There are, however, some easily recognized groups, such as ants. The larger members of some families are quite distinctive, but there are an enormous number of species to contend with. These are the Families of Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, and ants) likely to be encountered in Austin, Texas:

Formicidae [ants]	Apidae [digger bees, etc.]	Megachilidae [leafcutter bees]	Andrenidae [mining bees]	Colletidae [plasterer bees]	Halictidae [sweat bees]
Vespidae [vespid wasps]	Sphecidae [solitary wasps]	Pompilidae [spider wasps]	Scoliidae [scoliid wasps]	Tiphiidae [tiphiid wasps]	Chrysididae [cuckoo wasps]
Ichneumonidae [ichneumons]	Braconidae [braconid wasps]	Torymidae [torymids]	gasteruptiidae [gasteruptiids]	Leucospidae [leucospids]	Chalcididae [chalcidids]
Evaniidae [ensign wasps]	Cynipidae [gall wasps]	Eurytomidae [seed chalcids]	Perilampidae [perilampids]	Scelionidae [scelionids]	Mutillidae [velvet ants]
	Pergidae [pergid sawflies]	Tenthredinidae [common sawflies]	Argidae [argid sawflies]