Sapygidae
Encyclopedia
The Sapygidae are a family of solitary aculeate wasp
s. There does not seem to be a common English name, but Club-horned wasps (translating the German name Keulhornwespen - in reference to the distinctive thickening of the antennae) seems as good a name as any, though various other groups of wasps also have clubbed or thickened antennae. They are generally black wasps, similar in appearance to some Tiphiidae
, with white or yellow markings developed to various degrees.
The female oviposits her eggs into the nests of solitary bee
s, and the developing larva
e consume both the host larvae and the supply of food provided for them.
The Sapygidae are a small family with only about 80 species described, and they are not of major economic importance. However some of their host species are important pollinators, and it may sometimes be necessary to control the level of predation on them (Peterson et al., 1992).
Fossil sapygids have been found in Upper Eocene
Baltic amber
(Brischke, 1886).
Wasp
The term wasp is typically defined as any insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is neither a bee nor an ant. Almost every pest insect species has at least one wasp species that preys upon it or parasitizes it, making wasps critically important in natural control of their...
s. There does not seem to be a common English name, but Club-horned wasps (translating the German name Keulhornwespen - in reference to the distinctive thickening of the antennae) seems as good a name as any, though various other groups of wasps also have clubbed or thickened antennae. They are generally black wasps, similar in appearance to some Tiphiidae
Tiphiidae
Tiphiidae is a family of large solitary wasps whose larvae are almost universally parasitoids of various beetle larvae, especially those in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea....
, with white or yellow markings developed to various degrees.
The female oviposits her eggs into the nests of solitary bee
Bee
Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants, and are known for their role in pollination and for producing honey and beeswax. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfamily Apoidea, presently classified by the unranked taxon name Anthophila...
s, and the developing larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e consume both the host larvae and the supply of food provided for them.
The Sapygidae are a small family with only about 80 species described, and they are not of major economic importance. However some of their host species are important pollinators, and it may sometimes be necessary to control the level of predation on them (Peterson et al., 1992).
Fossil sapygids have been found in Upper Eocene
Eocene
The Eocene Epoch, lasting from about 56 to 34 million years ago , is a major division of the geologic timescale and the second epoch of the Paleogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Eocene spans the time from the end of the Palaeocene Epoch to the beginning of the Oligocene Epoch. The start of the...
Baltic amber
Amber
Amber is fossilized tree resin , which has been appreciated for its color and natural beauty since Neolithic times. Amber is used as an ingredient in perfumes, as a healing agent in folk medicine, and as jewelry. There are five classes of amber, defined on the basis of their chemical constituents...
(Brischke, 1886).