Wasps of the genus Sphex are cosmopolitan predators that sting and paralyze prey insects. Sphex is one of many genera in the old digger wasp family Sphecidae, though most apart from the Sphecinae have now been moved to the family Crabronidae. There are over 130 known Sphex species.
The Crabronidae is a large family of wasps within the superfamily Apoidea.
Pison is a cosmopolitan genus of wasps within the family Crabronidae. The genus comprises 145 described species, although many species, especially in South America remain undescribed.
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.
Larra, also known as mole cricket wasps or mole cricket hunters, is a genus of wasps that prey on various species of mole crickets. They have gained prominence as integrated pest management agents.
The Sierolomorphidae are a family of 13 extant species of wasps, in the genera Sierolomorpha and Proscleroderma, mostly found in the Northern Hemisphere. They are rare and very little is known of their biology. A fossil species Loreisomorpha nascimbenei has also been placed in the family.
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.
Chalybion is a genus of blue mud dauber wasps in the family Sphecidae. Chalybion species nest in a wide range of natural and artificial cavities such as holes in wood, walls, plant stems, etc., where they typically provision their brood cells with paralyzed spiders. They also reuse old nests of other wasps like Trypoxylon and Sceliphron.
Episyron is a genus of wasps in the family Pompilidae which prey on spiders. Nine species are found in Europe.
Anoplius is a genus of spider wasps in the family Pompilidae called the blue-black spider wasps. It is one of two genera within the tribe Anopliini of subfamily Pompilinae.
Tiphia is a genus of wasps belonging to the family Tiphiidae, subfamily Tiphiinae. They feed on soil-inhabiting scarab beetle larvae.
Mimumesa is a genus of wasps in the family Psenidae. The species are found in the Holarctic. 32 species are known to exist.
Spilomena is a genus of aphid wasps in the family Pemphredonidae. The 86 species are found worldwide being represented in the Palearctic, Nearctic, Afrotropical, Neotropical, Australasian, and Indomalayan realms.
Sphecodes is a genus of cuckoo bees from the family Halictidae, the majority of which are black and red in colour and are colloquially known as blood bees. Sphecodes bees are kleptoparasitic on other bees, especially bees in the genera Lasioglossum, Halictus and Andrena. The adults consume nectar, but because they use other bees' provisions to feed their offspring they do not collect pollen.
Psen is a genus of aphid wasps in the family Psenidae. There are at least 90 described species in Psen.
Hoplisoides is a genus of sand wasps in the family Bembicidae. There are at least 70 described species in Hoplisoides.
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.
Lyroda is a genus of square-headed wasps in the family Crabronidae. There are more than 20 described species in Lyroda.
