HYMENOPTERA-

FOR B.SC(AGRICULTURE) AND M.SC(ZOOLOGY WITH ENTOMOLOGY) SUBJECTS
Characteristics
There approximately 14 800 Hymenoptera species in Australia and it is estimated that 4000 of these are ant species. The name Hymenoptera means 'membrane wings'. This order is large and diverse and includes groups of insects, which may appear to be unrelated due to their differing appearances. However all hymenopterans share the following characteristics:

Two pairs of membranous wings, although some may be wingless such as some species of female wasps and the worker caste of ants
The forewings are larger than the hind wings and are held together by small hooks (see below)
Females usually have a hardened ovipositor, which may be modified for sawing, piercing or stinging
Most hymenopterans have a constriction between the first 2 segments of the abdomen, which is known as a 'wasp waist'
Chewing (mandibulate) mouthparts, although in some species such as bees the lower lip is modified to form a tongue
Compound eyes, usually large
The larvae of hymenopterans lack many of the above external features. They vary in body shape and size depending on the species. Some display a distinct head,a thorax with 3 pairs of legs and an abdomen, although most are grub-like with no legs.