Hymenoptera

Common name:

Sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants

Distribution:

Every continent except Antarctica, especially in tropical and subtropical regions

Habitat:

In soil, litter or on vegetation

Diet:

Feeds on flowers, leaves, or stems; some are predatory, and bees feed on nectar and pollen

Number of species globally

150,000

Number of species in Hong Kong :

730

Morphology
(how to recognize them) :

-Two pairs of wings
-Well developed mandibles for chewing or a long proboscis
-Long antennae
-They have hamuli which are hook-like bristles on the hindwings that hold forewing and hindwing together

Diagram

Did you know ?

Females develop from fertilized eggs while males develop from unfertilized eggs. They can regulate the sex ratio of their offspring since females can control whether or not to fertilize an egg.