Biology 3484A/B Lecture Notes - Parasitoid Wasp, Wasp Waist, Apocrita
24 Dec 2012
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Document Summary
Order hymenoptera wasps: hymen means membrane and ptera means wing, so these are membrane-winged insects. This is the last order of the big four. There are many common names for the order hymenoptera including wasps, bees, ants, sawflies, velvet ants, stinging wasps, parasitoid wasps, parasitic wasps, mud wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets. Bees and ants are derived monophyletic groups within the. A synapomorphy for this order is two pairs of membranous wings with hamuli. Many have secondarily lost their wings (ex. worker ants). The hind wings are smaller than the front wings. A synapomorphy for this order is hamuli, which are a series of tiny hooks on the leading edge of the hind wings. They attach to the trailing edge of the front wings. The hamuli allow the wings to hook together during flight and presumably aids in flight. Insects in this order undergo complete metamorphosis with the stages egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
