Thynnidae
The Thynnidae 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 are wingless and hunt ground-dwelling beetle larvae, or 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, 1838Anthosila Genise, 1985Calchaquila Genise, 1985Cosila Guérin-Méneville, 1838Lalapa Pate, 1947Odontothynnus Cameron, 1904Paramyzine Berg, 1898Subfamily: [Diamminae] Turner, 1907
Diamma Westwood, 1835Subfamily: [Methochinae] Rohwer, 1916
Methocha Latreille, 1804Pterombrus Smith, 1869Subfamily: [Myzininae] Borner, 1919
Tribe: [Austromyzinini]
Austromyzinum Brown, 1985Cleftomyzinum Brown, 1985Tribe: [Myzinini]
Myzinum Latreille, 1803Tribe: [Mesini] Argaman, 1994
Mesa Saussure, 1892Hylomesa Krombein, 1968Tribe: [Meriini] Costa, 1858
Afromeria Boni Bartalucci, 2007Allomeria Boni Bartalucci, 2007Braunsomeria Turner, 1912Iswara Westwood, 1851Komarowia Radoszkowski, 1886Lamprowara Boni Bartalucci, 2004Macromeria Westwood, 1835 Meria Illiger, 1807Meriodes Boni Bartalucci, 2007Myzinella Guiglia, 1959Notomeria Boni Bartalucci, 2011Parameria Guérin-Méneville, 1837Poecilotiphia Cameron, 1902Tamerlanella Boni Bartalucci, 2004Weerpaga Argaman, 1994Zezelda Argaman, 1994Subfamily: [Thynninae] Ashmead, 1903
Tribe: [Agriomyini] Brown, 2025
Aeolothynnus Ashmead, 1903Agriomyia Guérin-Ménéville, 1838Aulacothynnus Turner, 1910Chilothynnus Brown, 1996Dythynnus Kimsey, 2001Gyrothynnus Brown, 2005Leiothynnus Turner, 1910Neozeleboria Rohwer, 1910Nitidothynnus Brown, 2001Pentazeleboria Brown, 1983Procerothynnus Brown, 2001Psammothynnus Ashmead, 1903Sinothynnus Brown, 2025Zeleboria Saussure, 1867Tribe: [Elaphropterini] Kimsey, 1992
Ammodromus Guérin-Méneville, 1838Argenthynnus Genise, 1991Atopothynnus Kimsey, 1991Brethynnus Genise,, 1991Chrysothynnus Turner, 1910Dolichothynnus Turner, 1910Elaphroptera Guérin-Ménéville, 1838Eucyrtothynnus Turner, 1910Merithynnus Kimsey, 1991Mesothynnus Kimsey, 1991Spilothynnus Ashmead, 1903Telephorornyia Guérin-Ménéville, 1838Upa Kimsey, 1991Zeena Kimsey, 1991Tribe: [Iswaroidini] Brown, 2025
Acanthothynnus Turner, 1910Arthrothynnus Brown, 1996Aspidothynnus Turner, 1910Beithynnus Kimsey, 2002Caetrathynnus Brown, 2001Doratithynnus Turner, 1910Encopothynnus Turner, 1915Epactiothynnus Turner, 1910Eurysothynnus Brown, 2025Flatrothynnus Brown, 2025Gymnothynnus Turner, 1910Iswaroides Ashmead, 1899Jocothynnus Brown, 2025Mulctothynnus Brown, 2025Pappothynnus Brown, 2025Quirithynnus Brown, 2025Rostrothynnus Brown, 2025Thynnoturneria Rohwer, 1910Tmesothynnus Turner, 1910Ypsilothynnus Brown, 2025Tribe: [Rhagigasterini] Ashmead, 1903
Curvothynnus Brown, 2010Dimorphothynnus Turner, 1910Eirone Westwood, 1844Rhagigaster Guérin-Ménéville, 1838Rugosothynnus Brown, 2015Rhytidothynnus Brown, 2008Umbothynnus Brown, 2008Zonothynnus Brown, 2025Tribe: [Scotaenini] Kimsey, 1992
Anodontyra Westwood 1835Glottynnus Genise, 1991Glottynoides Kimsey, 1991Kaysara Carnimeo & Noll, 2018Ornepetes Guérin, 1838Pampathynnus Carnimeo & Noll, 2018Parelaphroptera Turner, 1910Pseudelaphroptera Ashmead, 1903Pseudoscotaena Carnimeo & Noll, 2018Rostrynnus Genise, 1991Scotaena Klug, 1810Tribe: [Tachynomyini] Brown, 2025
Ariphron Kimsey, 2007Deuterothynnus Brown, 2005Heligmothynnus Brown, 2005Phymatothynnus Turner, 1908Tachynoides Kimsey, 1996Tachynomyia Guérin-Ménéville, 1842Tachyphron Brown, 1995Wrangathynnus Brown, 2025Tribe: [Thynnini] Ashmead, 1903
Amblysoma Westwood, 1841Anpogothynnus Brown, 2025Belothynnus Turner, 1910Bifidothynnus Brown, 1992Campylothynnus Turner, 1910Catocheilus Guérin-Ménéville, 1842Elidothynnus Turner, 1910Guerinius Ashmead, 1903Hathynnus Kimsey, 2003Hemithynnus Ashmead, 1903Insolitothynnus Brown, 2025Keteiothynnus Brown, 2025Leptothynnus Turner, 1910Lestricothynnus Turner, 1910Levothynnus Brown, 2025Lophocheilus Guérin-Ménéville, 1842Macrothynnus Turner, 1908Megalothynnus Turner, 1910Oncorhinothynnus Salter, 1954Ozaspothynnus Brown, 2025Pogonothynnus Turner, 1910Thynnoides Guérin-Ménéville, 1838Thynnus Fabricius, 1775Vehemenothynnus Brown, 2025Zaspilothynnus Ashmead, 1903Zythynnus Kimsey, 2001Extinct genera
The following 4 genera are extinct 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