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Hymenoptera is one of the larger orders of insects, comprising the sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants. The name comes from the membranous wings (Greek hymen, a membrane), of which most forms have two pairs when present, the front wings larger than the back.

Females typically have a special ovipositor for inserting eggs into hosts or otherwise inaccessible places, often modified into a stinger. The young develop through complete metamorphosis - that is, they have a worm-like larval stage and an inactive pupal stage before they mature. (See holometabolism.)

Among the hymenopterans, sex is determined by the number of chromosomes the individual receives. Fertilized eggs get two sets of chromosomes, and so develop into diploid females; unfertilized eggs only receive one set, and so develop into haploid males. This phenomenon is called haplodiploidy. Note, however, that the actual genetic mechanisms of haplodiploid sex determination are more complex than simple chromosome number. In many Hymenoptera, sex is actually determined by a single gene locus with many alleles. In these species, haploids are male and diploids heterozygous at the sex locus are female, but occasionally a diploid will be homozygous at the sex locus and develop as a male instead. This is especially likely to occur in an individual whose parents were siblings or other close relatives. Diploid males are known to be produced by inbreeding in many ant, bee and wasp species. (See Haplo-diploid sex-determination system.)

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Bees, Wasps, and Ants :: Arthropods

 
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Ants, Bees and Wasps: Index of the Order Hymenoptera - Stunning insect macrophotography combined with informative descriptions. Browse through the database and develop a respect and appreciation for these extraordinary animals.
Meta Description: [ Stunning insect macrophotography combined with informative descriptions. Browse through the database and develop a respect and appreciation for these extraordinary animals. ]

404 Apiculture and Social Insect Laboratory - Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, Sheffield University.

Hymenoptera at NCState - This page has resources on Hymenoptera, the ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies.
Meta Description: [ This page has resources on Hymenoptera, the ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. ]

International Society of Hymenopterists - Journal of Hymenoptera research, conferences, society information.

Introduction to the Hymenoptera - This resource for eusocial insects is small but detailed. UC Berkeley, updated regularly.

Susanne Schulmeister's Hymenoptera Reference Site - Information and current research about sawflies and other Hymenoptera.

The Social Insects Web - Study of eusocial insects, primarily the order hymenoptera.

UK Biodiversity Action Plans for Bees and Wasps - Status and conservation of 24 species.

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