Hymenoptera

Sawflies, bees, wasps, and ants are second only to Coleoptera in the number of species. There are in excess of 120,000 known species, of which more than 40,000 occur in Europe, and 6.500 in the UK.

The order can be split into two groups the Symphyta (sawflies) with no waist, and the Apocrita (the rest) where the waist is very narrow. The Symphyta are the most primitive members, whilst the Apocrita contain highly advanced and specialized insects.