| Bembicinae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Bembix sp. | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Bembicidae |
| Subfamily: | Bembicinae Latreille, 1802 [1] |
| Tribes | |
Bembicinae is one of the two subfamilies of Bembicidae, along with Nyssoninae. [2]
This subfamily was formerly classified under Crabronidae, but phylogeletic revision indicated that this treatment was paraphyletic. Taxonomic work to resolve this paraphyly resulted in the erection of additional families, including Bembicidae. [3]
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.
Sphecius speciosus, the eastern cicada-killer wasp, is a large, solitary digger wasp species in the family Bembicidae. They are so named because they hunt cicadas and provision their nests with them. Cicada killers exert a measure of natural control on cicada populations, and as such, they may directly benefit the deciduous trees upon which the cicadas feed. Sometimes, they are erroneously called sand hornets, despite not truly being hornets, which belong to the family Vespidae.
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 is a large family of wasps within the superfamily Apoidea.
Potter wasps, the Eumeninae, are a cosmopolitan wasp group presently considered a subfamily of Vespidae, but sometimes recognized in the past as a separate family, Eumenidae.
The Bembicidae comprise a large subfamily of apoid wasps that includes over 80 genera and over 1800 species which have a worldwide distribution. They excavate nests in the soil, frequently in sandy soils, and store insects of several orders, for example Diptera, Orthoptera, Hemiptera, Lepidoptera and Odonata in the burrows. Some species are kleptoparasites of other Bembicidae. The different subgroups of Bembicidae are each quite distinctive, and rather well-defined, with clear morphological and behavioral differences between them.
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.
The Alyssontini are a small tribe of wasps from the subfamily Bembicinae.
The Stizina is a subtribe of small to large-sized sand wasps in the tribe Bembicini. The subtribe is distinguished primarily by features of wing venation. Members of the genus Stizus are large, and superficially resemble cicada-killer wasps, and members of the genus Stizoides are cleptoparasites in the nests of other Crabronids.
Pemphredonidae is a family of aphid wasps formerly treated as the subfamily Pemphredoninae. There are 19 genera and 556 described species in the family.
Astata is a cosmopolitan genus of solitary predatory wasps in the family Astatidae. They are known to prey on adults and nymphs of Pentatomidae. Astata is the largest genus in this subfamily, and is identified by features of its wing venation. The males of this genus and the related genus Dryudella have very large compound eyes that broadly meet at the top of the head.
Bembecinus tridens is a species of sand wasps belonging to the family Bembicidae.
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.
Psenidae is a family of aphid wasps in the superfamily Apoidea formerly treated as the tribe Psenini. There are 12 genera and at least 485 described species of Psenidae.
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.
Trypoxylon lactitarse is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is found in North, Central, and South America, and said to range from Canada to Argentina. These are fairly common harmless solitary wasps, although as with others of this same genus, the adult males can be observed to guard the nests. This species is well-characterised as nesting in pre-existing cavities which has facilitated ecological studies, as females can be easily attracted to nest in human-made trap-nests. Females construct a linear series of cells that are subdivided by mud partitions. In the south of range, nesting activity has been recorded to occur throughout the year, although may be more common in certain months. They can begin construction of their nests with a layer of mud, followed by the formation of a linear series of 6-8 cells.
Sphecius convallis, the Pacific cicada killer, is a species of sand wasp in the family Bembicidae. It is found in Central America and North America.>
Sphecius hogardii, the Caribbean cicada killer, is a species of sand wasp in the family Bembicidae. It is found in the Caribbean and North America.
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