Pepsinae


The Pepsinae are a subfamily of the spider wasp family, Pompilidae, including the two genera of large tarantula hawks, as well as many genera of smaller species.

Biology

A female spider wasp generally captures and stings a spider to paralise it; this is for their larvae to feed on. However, the wasps of this subfamily display a range of nesting behaviours:
  • using preexisting cavities;
  • using the immobilised spider’s burrow;
  • digging a burrow in soil;
  • building nests of mud;
  • parasitoids; and
  • kleptoparasites.

    Taxonomy

Pepsinae can be defined by:
  • sternite 2 with a distinct transverse groove;
  • mesofemur and metafemur without subapical spine-like setae set in grooves or pits;
  • the metatibia with apical spine-like setae of uniform length, the setae not splayed; and
  • vein Cu1 of fore wing is simple at its base, without any definite downward deflection, i.e. the second discal cell is without a ‘pocket’.
The subfamily Pepsinae comprises 84 genera. These include 16 genera of Ageniellini, 7 genera of Deuterageniini, 48 genera of Pepsini, 11 genera of Priocnemini, 1 genus of Psoropempulini, and 1 genus unplaced to tribe.

Tribe [Ageniellini]

  • Ageniella Banks, 1912
  • Atopagenia Wasbauer, 1987
  • Auplopus Spinola, 1841
  • Cyemagenia Arnold, 1946
  • Dichragenia Haupt, 1950
  • Dimorphagenia Evans, 1973
  • Eragenia Banks, 1946
  • Machaerothrix Haupt, 1938
  • Macromerella Banks, 1934
  • Macromeris Lepeletier, 1831
  • Mystacagenia Evans, 1973
  • Paragenia Bingham, 1896
  • Phanagenia Banks, 1933
  • Phanochilus Banks, 1944
  • Poecilagenia Haupt, 1926
  • Priocnemella Banks, 1925

    Tribe [Deuterageniini]

  • Deuteragenia Šustera, 1912
  • Dipogon Fox, 1897
  • Kuriloagenia Loktionov & Lelej, 2014
  • Myrmecodipogon Ishikawa, 1965
  • Nipponodipogon Ishikawa, 1965
  • Stigmatodipogon Ishikawa, 1965
  • Winnemanella Krombein, 1962

    Tribe [Pepsini]

  • Abernessia Arlé, 1947
  • Adirostes Banks, 1946
  • Aimatocare Roig-Alsina, 1989
  • Allaporus Banks, 1933
  • Alococurgus Haupt, 1937
  • Anacyphonyx Banks, 1946
  • Austrosalius Turner, 1917
  • Calopompilus Ashmead, 1900
  • Chirodamus Haliday, 1837
  • Chrysagenia Haupt, 1941
  • Cordyloscelis Arnold, 1935
  • Cryptocheilus Panzer, 1806
  • Cyphononyx Dahlbom, 1845
  • Dentagenia Haupt, 1933
  • Derochorses Banks, 1941
  • Dinosalius Banks, 1934
  • Diplonyx de Saussure, 1887
  • Dolichocurgus Haupt, 1937
  • Entypus Dahlbom, 1843
  • Epipompilus Kohl, 1884
  • Eremocurgus Haupt, 1937
  • Formosacesa Koçak et Kemal, 2008
  • Hemipepsis Dahlbom, 1844
  • Herbstellus Wahis, 2002
  • Heterodontonyx Haupt, 1935
  • Hormopogonius Arnold,1934
  • Hypoferreola Ashmead, 1902
  • Iridomimus Evans, 1970
  • Java Pate, 1946
  • Lepidocnemis Haupt, 1930
  • Leptodialepis Haupt, 1929
  • Melanagenia Wahis, 2009
  • Micragenia Haupt, 1926
  • Microcurgus Haupt, 1937
  • Minagenia Banks, 1934
  • Mygnimia Shuckard, 1840
  • Ochragenia Haupt, 1959
  • Pachycurgus Haupt, 1937
  • Paraclavelia Haupt, 1930
  • Pepsis Fabricius, 1804
  • Plagicurgus Roig-Alsina, 1982
  • Pompilocalus Roig-Alsina, 1989
  • Poecilocurgus Haupt, 1937
  • Schistompilus Tsuneki,1988
  • Schistonyx Saussure, 1887
  • Trachyglyptus Arnold, 1934
  • Xenocurgus Haupt, 1937

    Tribe [Priocnemini]

  • Caliadurgus Pate, 1946
  • Claveliocnemis Wolf, 1968
  • Clistoderes Banks, 1934
  • Ctenopriocnemis Ishikawa, 1962
  • Eopompilus Gussakovskij, 1932
  • Eopriocnemis Loktionov & Lelej, 2019
  • Malloscelis Haupt, 1935
  • Platydialepis Haupt, 1941
  • Priocnemis Schiødte, 1837
  • Priocnessus Banks, 1925
  • Sphictostethus Kohl, 1884

    Tribe [Psoropempulini]

  • Psoropempula Evans, 1974

    ''Incertae sedis''

  • Aberropompilus Shimizu & Wahis, 2016