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 Sphecidae are a cosmopolitan family of wasps of the suborder Apocrita that includes sand wasps, mud daubers, and other thread-waisted wasps.
Bembix is a large cosmopolitan genus of large, often brightly colored predatory sand wasps, consisting of about 380 species.
Pepsis is a genus of spider wasps belonging to the family Pompilidae. Species within this genus are also called tarantula hawks, as they usually hunt tarantulas, similarly to many species in the genus Hemipepsis. These wasps are restricted to the Americas, with the related genus Hemipepsis occurring in both Old and New Worlds.
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.
Chrysis is a very large genus of cuckoo wasps. It is the largest genus in the family, including over 1,000 species in over 20 subgenera, as speciose as all remaining Chrysididae combined. The generic name is derived from Greek chrysis, "gold vessel, gold-embroidered dress", and pays tribute to the brilliant metallic appearance of wasps in the genus.
Chrysura is a genus of cuckoo wasps which parasitize megachilid bees. There are 117 species in Chrysura, all but 11 of which are found in the Palaearctic, making it the third largest genus in the family. The genus was described by Dahlbom in 1845, and the type species for the genus is Chrysura austriaca.
Crossocerus is a genus of square-headed wasps in the family Crabronidae. There are at least 250 described species in Crossocerus.
Crabro is a genus of square-headed wasps belonging to the family Crabronidae. There are at least 80 described species in Crabro, found in the Nearctic and Palaearctic (Holarctic).
Ectemnius is a genus of wasps in the family Crabronidae. 188 species are known. The genus is found around the world but Australia has only two species.
Mellinus is a genus of wasps in the family Crabronidae. The species are found in the Palearctic, Nearctic, the Neotropics and the Orient. 16 species are known
Mimumesa is a genus of wasps in the family Crabronidae. The species are found in the Holarctic. 32 species are known to exist.
Nysson is a Holarctic genus of kleptoparasitic wasps in the family Crabronidae. Over 100 species are known.
Passaloecus is a genus of wasps in the family Crabronidae. The 40 species are found in the Nearctic. They are especially represented in the Palearctic
Psenulus is a genus of wasps in the family Crabronidae. The 160 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.
Stizoides is a genus of kleptoparasitic sand wasps in the family Crabronidae. There are at least 30 described species in Stizoides.
Oxybelini is a tribe of square-headed wasps in the family Crabronidae. There are about 15 genera and more than 440 described species in Oxybelini.
Oxybelus bipunctatus is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is found in Africa, Europe and Northern Asia, and North America.
