Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Article
Published: 2022-11-30
Page range: 47-88
Abstract views: 563
PDF downloaded: 53

The Scoliidae wasps (Hymenoptera: Scolioidea) of Mexico: taxonomy and biogeography

Posgrado en Ciencias en Recursos Naturales y Desarrollo Rural, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Carretera Panamericana y Periférico Sur s/n C.P. 29290, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, México.
Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky Research & Education Center, 348 University Drive, Princeton, KY 42445, USA.
Departamento de Conservación, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Carretera Panamericana y Periférico Sur s/n C.P. 29290, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, México.
Hymenoptera Collections Camposmerini distribution Mexican biodiversity Scoliini taxonomic key

Abstract

The family Scoliidae is represented by approximately 560 species worldwide. Of these, 64 species are known to occur in the New World. The greatest diversity of these wasps is concentrated in the Pantropical region. However, both the biology and the taxonomy of Scoliidae has remained understudied over the last six decades in the Americas. Taxonomic keys for the New World species are limited to certain regions of North and South America, showing ambiguous descriptions and unillustrated specimens. This situation has largely restricted aspects such as the species richness, ecology, and thus conservation status of these wasps, especially in Mexico, where there are no taxonomic revisions. In this work, the Scoliidae species from Mexico were revised from 12 entomological collections to update and homologize the list of species. In total, we examined 747 specimens from 23 morphospecies and 9 genera. The diagnosis of each species is presented, including their distribution, and a species checklist is provided. Moreover, the first taxonomic key for the Mexican species is presented. Stygocampsomeris servillei Guérin is a new record for the country. Also, two new Nearctic and four Neotropical records are added. The occurrence records are now expanded to 30 Mexican states. Most species (41.6%) occur in both Nearctic and Neotropical regions. The species Scolia fuscipennis Bartlett is still known from a single sex. This work is the first attempt towards the taxonomy and biogeography of the Mexican Scoliidae; thus, it could be an important baseline for faunistic, ecological, and conservation purposes. Overall, the family Scoliidae has been overlooked and poorly represented in Mexican collections. The specimens were scarce and frequently in bad condition, and none of them include biological or ecological attributes. Systematic sampling and appropriate curation of specimens would help to conduct future revisions, as well as the possible integration of barcoding information allowing integrative taxonomic approaches.

 

References

  1. Abbate, A., Campbell, J., Bremer J. & Kern, W.H. (2018) The introduction and establishment of Campsomeris dorsata (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae) in Florida. Florida Entomologist, 101 (3), 543–545. https://doi.org/10.1653/024.101.0334
    Añino, Y.J., Cambra, R.A., Windsor, D.M., Zuñiga R. & Quintero, D. (2020) Review of Scolia (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae) from Central America, including seasonal flight activity in Scolia guttata. Acta Biológica Colombiana, 25 (2), 202–209. https://doi.org/10.15446/abc.v25n2.77590
    Argaman, Q. (1996) Generic synopsis of Scoliidae (Hymenoptera, Scolioidea). Annals Historico-Naturales Musei Nationalis Hungarici, 88, 171–222.
    Alcock, J. (2016) The Scramble Competition Mating System of Scolia dubia (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 89 (2), 168–173. https://doi.org/10.2317/JKES155009.1
    Banks, N. (1917) New Fossorial Hymenoptera. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard, 41 (5), 95–115.
    Bartlett, O.C. (1912) The North American digger wasp of the subfamily Scoliinae. Annals of The Entomological Society of America, 5 (4), 293–342. https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/5.4.293
    Betrem, J.G. & Bradley, J.C. (1964) Annotations on the Genera Triscolia, Megascolia and Scolia (Hymenoptera, Scoliidae) Zoologische Mededelingen, 39 (43), 433–444.
    Bradley, J.C. (1928a) A Revision of the New World Species of Trielis a Subgenus of Campsomeris (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae). Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 54 (3), 195–214. [1890-]
    Bradley, J.C. (1928b) The Species of Campsomeris (Hymenoptera-Scoliidae) of the Plumipes Group, Inhabiting the United States, the Greater Antilles, and the Bahama Islands. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 80, 313–337.
    Bradley, J.C. (1945) The Scoliidae (Hymenoptera) of Northern South America, With Especial Reference to Venezuela. -I. The Genus Campsomeris. Boletin de Entomología Venezolana, 4 (1), 1–31.
    Bradley, J.C. (1957) The Taxa of Campsomeris (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae) Occurring in the New World. Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 83 (2), 65–77. [1890-]
    Bradley, J.C. & Betrem, J.G. (1966) Burmeister’s work on Scoliidae with especial reference to types and synonymy. Beiträge zur Entomologie, 16 (1), 73–84.
    Branstetter, M.G., Danforth, B.N., Pitts, J.P., Faircloth, B.C., Ward, P.S., Buffington, M.L., Gates, M.W., Kula, R.R. & Brady, S.G. (2017) Phylogenomic Insights into the Evolution of Stinging Wasps and the Origins of Ants and Bees. Current Biology, 27 (7), 1019–1025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2017.03.027
    Brothers, D.J. & Finnamore, A.T. (1993) Chapter 8 Superfamily Vespoidea. In: Goulet, H. & Huber, J.T. (Eds.), Hymenoptera of the world: An identification guide to families. Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, pp. 161–278.
    Burmeister, H. (1854) Bemerkungen über den allgemeinen Bau und die Geschlechtsunterschiede bei den Arten der Gattung Scolia Fabr. Abhandlungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft zu Halle, 1 (4), 1–46.
    Cameron, P. (1893) Insecta. Hymenoptera (Fossores). In: Godman, F.D. & Salvin, O. (Eds.), Fam. Scoliidae. Vol. II. Biologia Centrali-Americana, London, pp. 222–234.
    Dalla Torre, C.G. (1897) Catalogus Hymenoptorum hucusque descriptorum systematicus et synonymicus. Vol. VIII. Fossores (Sphegidae). Sumptibus Guilelmi Engelmann, Lipsiae, 749 pp.
    Day, M.C., Else, G.R. & Morgan, D. (1981) The most primitive Scoliidae (Hymenoptera). Journal of Natural History, 15, 671–684. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222938100770471
    Dayrat, B. (2005) Towards integrative taxonomy. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 85 (3), 407–417. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8312.2005.00503.x
    Dos Santos, E.F. Grandinete, Y.C. & Noll, F.B. (2015) Additions to the checklist of Scoliidae, Sphecidae, Pompilidae and Vespidae of Peru, with notes on the endemic status of some species (Hymenoptera, Aculeata). ZooKeys, 519, 33–48. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.519.6501
    Escoto, J., Cruz, J. & Delgado, L. (2001) Biodiversidad de Himenópteros del Estado de Aguascalientes, México. Investigación y Ciencia, 9 (24), 20–27.
    Evans, H.E. & Eberhard, M.J. (1970) The wasps. The University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 265 pp.
    Fabricius, J.C. (1793) Entomologia systematica: emendata et aucta, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, adjectis synonimis, locis, observationibus, descriptionibus. Vol. 2. VIII. impensis Christ. Gottl. Proft, Hafniae, 519 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.122153
    Fabricius, J.C. (1804) Systema piezatorum secundum ordines, genera, species: adiectis synonymis, locis, observationibus, descriptionibus. Carolum Reichard, Brunsvigae, 440 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.10490
    Fernandez, F. & Cubillos, W. (1999) Las Avispas Escolidas (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae) de Colombia. In: Amat-G., G., Andrade-C., M.G. & Fernandez, F. (Eds.), Insectos de Colombia Volumen II. Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Bogotá, pp. 35–52.
    Fernandez, F. (2006) Familia Scoliidae. In: Fernandez, F. & Sharkey, M.J. (Eds.) Introducción a los Hymenoptera de la Región Neotropical. Sociedad Colombiana de Entomología y Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, D.C., pp. 557–558.
    Fox, W.J. (1896) Contributions to a Knowledge of the Hymenoptera of Brazil. No. 1. Scoliidae. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 48, 292–307
    Grisell, E.E. (2007) Scoliid Wasps of Florida, Campsomeris, Scolia and Trielis spp. (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Scoliidae). Entomology and Nematology Department, UF/IFAS Extension, 2007, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-in745-2007
    Guérin, M.F.E. (1838) Insects. Duperrey, Voyage autourdu monde, exécuté par ordre du roi, sur la corvette de S.M. la Coquille, pendant les annees 1822–825. Section I, Zoology. Arthus Bertrand, Paris, 319 pp.
    Huber, J.T. & Sharkey, M.J. (1993). Structure. In: Goulet, H. & Huber J.T. (Eds.), Hymenoptera of the world: An identification guide to families. Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, pp. 13–59.
    Hurd, P.D. (1952) The Scoliidae of California (Hymenoptera: Aculeata). Bulletin of the California Insect Survey, 1 (6), 141–152.
    Khouri, Z. Gillung, J.P. & Kimsey, L.S. (2022) The evolutionary history of mammoth wasps (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae). Preprint. Available from: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.24.474473v1.full.pdf (accessed 11 November 2022) https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.01.24.474473
    Liu, Z., Van Achterberg, C., He, J.-H. & Chen, H.-Y. (2021) Illustrated keys to Scoliidae (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Scolioidea) from China. ZooKeys, 1025, 139–175. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1025.61385
    MacKay, W.P. (1987) The Scoliid Wasps of the Southwestern United States (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae). The Southwestern Naturalist, 32 (3), 357–362. https://doi.org/10.2307/3671453
    Nel, A, Escuillie, F. & Garrouste, R. (2013) A new scoliid wasp in the Early Cretaceous Crato Formation in Brazil (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae). Zootaxa, 3717 (3), 395–400. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3717.3.10
    Osten, T.von. (2005) Checkliste der Dolchwespen der Welt (Insecta: Hymenoptera, Scoliidae). Bericht der Naturforschende Gesellschaft Augsburg, 2005, 1–62.
    Piek, T., Huet, B., Pelhate, M. & Mony, L. (1987) The Venom of the Wasp Campsomeris sexmaculata (F.) Blocks Synaptic Transmission in Insect CNS. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, 87C (2), 283–286. https://doi.org/10.1016/0742-8413(87)90009-0
    Porter C.C. (1981) Scoliidae (Hymenoptera) of the Lower Río Grande Valley. The Florida Entomologist, 64 (3), 441–453. https://doi.org/10.2307/3494507
    Rasnitsyn, A.P., Martínez-Delclós, X. (1999) New Cretaceous Scoliidae (Vespida=Hymenoptera) from the Lower Cretaceous of Spain and Brazil. Cretaceous Research, 20, 767–772. https://doi.org/10.1006/cres.1999.0181
    Rowher S.A. (1927) Some Scoliid Wasp From tropical America. Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences, 17 (6), 150–155.
    Ruíz C.E. & Coronado, J.M. (2002) Orden Hymenoptera. In: Ruíz, C.E. & Coronado, J.M. (Eds.), Artrópodos terrestres de los estados de Tamaulipas y Nuevo León, México. Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas: Serie Publicaciones Científicas CIDAFFUAT No. 2. Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Tamaulipas, pp. 173–241.
    Ruíz E., Kasparyan, D.R., Coronado, J.M., Myartseva, S.N., Trjaptizin, V.A., Hernández, S.G. & García, J. (2010) Himenópteros de la Reserva “El Cielo”, Tamaulipas, México. Dugesiana, 17 (1), 53–71.
    Saussure, de H. (1858) Description De Diverses Espéces Nouvelles Ou Peu Connues Du Genre Scolia. Annales de la Société entomologique de France, 3 (6), 193–249.
    Saussure, de H. & Sichel, J. (1864) Catalogue des espèces de l’ancien genre Scolia, contenant les diagnoses, les descriptions et la synonymie des espèces, avec des remarques explicatives et critiques. V. Mason, Geneve et Paris, 350 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.9323
    Smith, F. (1855) Catalogue of the Hymenopterous Insects in the collection of the British Museum Part III. Mutillidae and Pompilidae. Taylor and Francis, London, 206 pp.
    Tani, S. & Ueno, T. (2013) Site fidelity and long-distance homing by males of solitary parasitic wasps (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae). The Canadian Entomologist, 145, 333–337. https://doi.org/10.4039/tce.2012.108
    Zhang, H., Rasnitsyn, A.P. & Zhang, J. (2002) The oldest known scoliid wasps (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Scoliidae) from the Jehol biota of western Liaoning, China. Cretaceous Research, 23, 77–86. https://doi.org/10.1006/cres.2001.0302
    Zhang, J. (2004) New representatives of Cretoscolia (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Scoliidae) from eastern China. Cretaceous Research, 25, 229–234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2003.12.003
    Zhang, J. (2006) A proscoliine wasp (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Scoliidae) from Shandong peninsula, East Asia. Cretaceous Research, 27 (6), 788–791. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2006.03.010

  2.