Tiphiidae

Tiphiid wasps
Tiphia sp.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Superfamily: Tiphioidea
Family: Tiphiidae
Leach, 1815
Subfamilies

The Tiphiidae (also known as tiphiid wasps,[1] flower wasps,[2][note 1] or tiphiid flower wasps[3]) are a family of large, solitary wasps whose larvae are parasitoids of various beetle larvae, especially those in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea.[4] Until recently, this family contained several additional subfamilies, but multiple studies have independently confirmed that these comprise a separate lineage, and are now classified in the family Thynnidae.[5][6]

The females of some Brachycistidinae are wingless, and hunt ground-dwelling (fossorial) beetle larvae.[4] 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. As some of the ground-dwelling scarab species attacked by tiphiids are pests, some of these wasps are considered beneficial as biological control agents.[7]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Obeysekara2014 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Australian Museum was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kelaidis2019 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Brothers1993 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Pilgrim2008 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Johnson2013 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Morais, Ryan (2020-07-28). "The Spring Tiphia: a natural enemy of the Japanese beetle". IPM & Entomology Lab. Retrieved 2024-06-06.


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