The superfamily Apoidea is a major group within the Hymenoptera, which includes two traditionally recognized lineages, the "sphecoid" wasps, and the bees. Molecular phylogeny demonstrates that the bees arose from within the traditional "Crabronidae", so that grouping is paraphyletic, and this has led to a reclassification to produce monophyletic families.
The Sphecidae are a cosmopolitan family of wasps of the suborder Apocrita that includes sand wasps, mud daubers, and other thread-waisted wasps.
The Crabronidae are a large paraphyletic group of wasps, including nearly all of the species formerly comprising the now-defunct superfamily Sphecoidea. It collectively includes well over 200 genera, containing well over 9000 species. Crabronids were originally a part of the Sphecidae, but the latter name is now restricted to a separate family based on what was once the subfamily Sphecinae. Several of the subfamilies of the Crabronidae are often treated as families in their own right, as is true of the most recent phylogenies.
Cerceris is a genus of wasps in the family Philanthidae. It is the largest genus in the family, with 876 described species and 169 subspecies. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution, with species on every continent.
Philanthidae is one of the largest families of wasp in the superfamily Apoidea, with 1167 species in 8 genera, most of which are Cerceris.
Heterogynaidae is a minor and disputed lineage of small spheciform wasps occurring in Madagascar, Botswana, Turkmenistan, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and the Eastern Mediterranean area. The majority are dark in color and range in size from approximately 1.5 to 5.0 mm. Most specimens have been collected in arid climates, but one species from Madagascar is known to occur in a humid forest habitat. Although males have functional wings, heterogynaid females are typically brachypterous, a trait which is unique among spheciform wasps. Wing venation is reduced in both sexes. All species are diurnal, with the exception of H. nocticola. Other aspects of their biology are completely unknown, but details of their morphology have prompted researchers to hypothesize that they may be non-fossorial parasitoids adapted to hunt in tight spaces, such as under tree bark. This is speculative and has not yet been confirmed by actual observations of behavior. It is also possible that modifications of the female metasomal tergum VI and gonostyli may represent a unique prey transport mechanism, but this is also unconfirmed.
Astatidae is a cosmopolitan family of solitary wasps, peculiar for their males having very large compound eyes that broadly meet at the top of the head. The largest genus in this family is Astata, with about half of more than 160 species in the family.
Crabronini is a tribe of square-headed wasps in the family Crabronidae. There are 48 genera and over 1,500 described species in Crabronini. Wasps of this tribe are mostly small to very small wasps. Typical of this tribe are the forewings with a single submarginal cell, the lack of membranous metanotal and propodeal modifications, and a square-shaped head.
Sphex pensylvanicus, the great black wasp, is a species of digger wasp. It lives across most of North America and grows to a size of 20–35 mm (0.8–1.4 in). The larvae feed on living insects that the females paralyze and carry to the underground nest.
Ammophila sabulosa, the red-banded sand wasp, is a species of the subfamily Ammophilinae of the solitary hunting wasp family Sphecidae, also called digger wasps. Found across Eurasia, the parasitoid wasp is notable for the mass provisioning behaviour of the females, hunting caterpillars mainly on sunny days, paralysing them with a sting, and burying them in a burrow with a single egg. The species is also remarkable for the extent to which females parasitise their own species, either stealing prey from nests of other females to provision their own nests, or in brood parasitism, removing the other female's egg and laying one of her own instead.
Ammophilinae is a subfamily of thread-waisted wasps in the family Sphecidae. There are about 6 genera and more than 320 described species in Ammophilinae.
Psenulus is a genus of wasps in the family Psenidae. The 173 species are found worldwide, but are best represented in the Indomalayan realm with 68. The Palearctic has 26, the Nearctic 4, and the Australasian realm 3. Psenulus is largely absent from South America and entirely absent from Melanesia and Polynesia. A recent phylogenetic analysis provided strong evidence that this genus is the closest living relative to bees.
Tachytes is a genus of predatory, solitary wasps, containing about 300 species.
Astata unicolor is a species of wasp in the family Astatidae. It is found in Central America and North America. The species is sexually dimorphic, with males have black abdomens, while females are black and orange. It is a predator of Pentatomidae, including Halyomorpha halys, which is invasive to North America.
Palmodes is a genus of thread-waisted wasps in the family Sphecidae. There are more than 20 described species in Palmodes.
Didineis is a genus of wasps in the family Crabronidae. There are more than 20 described species in Didineis.
Astata bicolor is a species of wasp in the family Astatidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Trachypus is a genus of wasps in the family Philanthidae. There are 31 described species in Trachypus.
Dryudella is a genus of wasps in the family Astatidae. There are more than 50 described species in Dryudella.
Palmodes occitanicus is a species of thread-waisted wasp in the family Sphecidae.
