What characteristic defines membership in the Aculeata infraorder?
Answer
Possession of a sting used for defense or paralyzing prey.
The infraorder Aculeata represents a significant grouping within Apocrita that is marked by a specific adaptation related to defense and predation, distinguishing it from parasitic wasp groups within Apocrita that rely solely on the ovipositor. The defining characteristic of Aculeata is the presence of a functional sting, which is the modified ovipositor mentioned previously, employed either for self-defense against threats or for paralyzing prey items intended to sustain larvae. While many members of this group, such as Vespidae, are predatory, the possession of the sting apparatus itself is the key defining feature that places an insect within the Aculeata infraorder.
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