Thynnidae

Thynnidae
The Thynnidae (also known as thynnid wasps, flower wasps, or thynnid flower wasps) are a family of large, solitary wasps whose larvae are almost universally parasitoids of various beetle larvae, especially those in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea. Until recently, the constituents of this family were classified in the family Tiphiidae, but multiple studies have independently confirmed that thynnids are a separate lineage.
Description
Most species are small, but they can be up to 30 mm long. The females of some subfamilies (Diamminae, Methochinae, and most Thynninae) are wingless and hunt ground-dwelling (fossorial) beetle larvae, or (in one species) mole crickets. The prey is paralysed with the female's sting, and an egg is laid on it so the wasp larva has a ready supply of food. In species where both sexes are winged, males are similar in size to the females, but are much more slender. The males of species with wingless females, however, are often much larger than the females and have wings; the adults mate in the air, with the female carried by the male's genitalia. Adults feed on nectar and are minor pollinators. As some of the ground-dwelling scarab species attacked by thynnids are pests, some of these wasps are considered beneficial as biological control agents.
Taxonomy
The family has five extant subfamilies, which were previously placed in Tiphiidae before it was found to be non-monophyletic. Thynnidae genera are classified as follows:
Extant genera
Subfamily: Anthoboscinae Turner, 1912
Anthobosca Guérin-Ménéville, 1838
Anthosila Genise, 1985
Calchaquila Genise, 1985
Cosila Guérin-Méneville, 1838
Lalapa Pate, 1947
Odontothynnus Cameron, 1904
Paramyzine Berg, 1898
Subfamily: Diamminae Turner, 1907
Diamma Westwood, 1835
Subfamily: Methochinae Rohwer, 1916
Methocha Latreille, 1804
Pterombrus Smith, 1869
Subfamily: Myzininae Borner, 1919
Tribe: Austromyzinini
Austromyzinum Brown, 1985
Cleftomyzinum Brown, 1985
Tribe: Myzinini
Myzinum Latreille, 1803
Tribe: Mesini Argaman, 1994
Mesa Saussure, 1892
Hylomesa Krombein, 1968
Tribe: Meriini Costa, 1858
Afromeria Boni Bartalucci, 2007
Allomeria Boni Bartalucci, 2007
Braunsomeria Turner, 1912
Iswara Westwood, 1851
Komarowia Radoszkowski, 1886
Lamprowara Boni Bartalucci, 2004
Macromeria Westwood, 1835
Meria Illiger, 1807
Meriodes Boni Bartalucci, 2007
Myzinella Guiglia, 1959
Notomeria Boni Bartalucci, 2011
Parameria Guérin-Méneville, 1837
Poecilotiphia Cameron, 1902
Tamerlanella Boni Bartalucci, 2004
Weerpaga Argaman, 1994
Zezelda Argaman, 1994
Subfamily: Thynninae Ashmead, 1903
Tribe: Elaphropterini Kimsey, 1992
Ammodromus Guérin-Méneville, 1838
Argenthynnus Genise, 1991
Atopothynnus Kimsey, 1991
Brethynnus Genise 1991
Chrysothynnus Turner, 1910
Dolichothynnus Turner, 1910
Elaphroptera Guérin-Ménéville, 1838
Eucyrtothynnus Turner, 1910
Merithynnus Kimsey, 1991
Mesothynnus Kimsey, 1991
Spilothynnus Ashmead, 1903
Telephorornyia Guérin-Ménéville, 1838
Upa Kimsey, 1991
Zeena Kimsey, 1991
Tribe: Rhagigasterini Ashmead, 1903
Aelurus Klug, 1840
Curvothynnus Brown, 2010
Dimorphothynnus Turner, 1910
Eirone Westwood, 1844
Rhagigaster Guérin-Ménéville, 1838
Rugosothynnus Brown, 2015
Umbothynnus Brown, 2008
Tribe: Scotaenini Kimsey,1992
Anodontyra Westwood 1835
Glottynnus Genise, 1991
Glottynoides Kimsey, 1991
Kaysara Carnimeo & Noll, 2018
Ornepetes Guérin, 1838
Pampathynnus Carnimeo & Noll, 2018
Parelaphroptera Turner, 1910
Pseudelaphroptera Ashmead, 1903
Pseudoscotaena Carnimeo & Noll, 2018
Rostrynnus Genise, 1991
Scotaena Klug, 1810
Tribe: Thynnini
Acanthothynnus Turner, 1910
Aeolothynnus Ashmead, 1903
Agriomyia Guérin-Ménéville, 1838
Amblysoma Westwood, 1841
Ariphron Kimsey, 2007
Arthrothynnus Brown, 1996
Aspidothynnus Turner, 1910
Aulacothynnus Turner, 1910
Belothynnus Turner, 1910
Campylothynnus Turner, 1910
Catocheilus Guérin-Ménéville, 1842
Chilothynnus Brown, 1996
Deuterothynnus Brown, 2010
Doratithynnus Turner, 1910
Dythynnus Kimsey, 2001
Elidothynnus Turner, 1910
Encopothynnus Turner, 1915
Epactiothynnus Turner, 1910
Guerinius Ashmead, 1903
Gymnothynnus Turner, 1910
Hathynnus Kimsey, 2003
Heligmothynnus Brown, 2010
Hemithynnus Ashmead, 1903
Iswaroides Ashmead, 1899
Leiothynnus Turner, 1910
Lestricothynnus Turner, 1910
Lophocheilus Guérin-Ménéville, 1842
Macrothynnus Turner, 1908
Megalothynnus Turner, 1910
Neozeleboria Rohwer, 1910
Oncorhinothynnus Salter, 1954
Pentazeleboria Brown, 1983
Phymatothynnus Turner, 1908
Pogonothynnus Turner, 1910
Psammothynnus Ashmead, 1903
Rhytidothynnus Brown, 2008
Tachynoides Kimsey, 1996
Tachynomyia Guérin-Ménéville, 1842
Tachyphron Brown, 1995
Tmesothynnus Turner, 1910
Thynnoides Guérin-Ménéville, 1838
Thynnoturneria Rohwer, 1910
Thynnus Fabricius, 1775
Zaspilothynnus Ashmead, 1903
Zeleboria Saussure, 1867
Zythynnus Kimsey, 2001
Extinct genera
The following 4 genera are extant members of Thynnidae:
Subfamily: Anthoboscinae Turner, 1912
Architiphia Darling, 1990
Subfamily: Methochinae Rohwer, 1916
Brachymethoca Zhang, 1989
Subfamily: Myzininae Borner, 1919
Geotiphia Cockerell, 1906
Lithotiphia'' Cockerell, 1906
References
External links
Myzinum maculata Fabricius, a thynnid wasp on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site
Apocrita families
Insects used as insect pest control agents