Key to the Tribes of Sphecid Wasps in Arkansas

Key to the Tribes of

Sphecid Wasps in Arkansas

This key is modified from the key in the volume Sphecid Wasps of the World from Bohart and Menke. It includes only the tribes predicted for occurrence in Arkansas. By no means have these all been proven in the state. Predicted genera for each tribe and the species number expected are included below the tribes. This will be refined as we find or fail to find species. Keys to the genera in each tribe are being added. Click on the tribe name to go to genera keys. Click on linked terms to access Wasp Terminology images (use back button from there to return to same spot on main key). Images are also from the Bohart and Menke text. Those coyrights are held by those authors and California Press. Eastern Sphecid Wasp list.

1. Gaster with a cylindrical petiole composed of sternum only, tergum I removed to apex of sternum I, jugal lobe of hindwing comprising nearly all of anal area

1. Gaster without a petiole composed of sternum only, or if so, jugal lobe of hindwing comprising at most not much more than half of anal area

2. Tarsal claws of foreleg and midleg with two or more basal teeth along inner margin

Tribe Sphecini

Isodontia (4)

Sphex (4)

Palmodes (1)

Prionyx (3)

2. Tarsal claws of foreleg and midleg simple or each with a single tooth on inner margin

3. Tarsal claws simple or rarely with a basal tooth

Tribe Ammophilini

Podalonia (4)

Eremnophila (1)

Ammophila (12)

3. Tarsal claws with one mesal tooth

Tribe Sceliphronini

Chalybion (2)

Chlorion (1)

Podium (2)

Sceliphron (1)

4. Midtibia with two apical spurs (rarely none)

4. Midtibia with one apical spur (rarely none)

5. Claws with one inner tooth or bifid

Gaster petiolate Tribe Ampulicini

Ampulex (1)

Gaster sessile Tribe Dolichurini

Dolichurus (1)

5. Claws simple or with a basal lobe, not a tooth

6. Hindwing jugal lobe more than half the length of anal area

Tribe Astatini

Astata (5)

Dryudella (1)

6. Hindwing jugal lobe less than half the length of anal area

7. Forewing with prestigmal length of first submarginal cell much more than length of wing beyond marginal cell

Tribe Stizini (part)

Bembecinus (1)

Stizus (1)

Stizoides (1)

7. Forewing with prestigmal length of first submarginal cell not distinctly more than length or wing beyond marginal cell or propodeum with a lateral tooth or prong

8. Pronotal collar low, longer than scutellum in dorsal view

Tribe Alyssonini (part)

Didineis (2)

8. Pronotal collar shorter than scutellum in dorsal view

9. Admedian scutal lines fused to form a single furrow, propodeum with a lateral tooth or prong

Tribe Nyssonini

Hyponysson (1)

Nysson (7)

Synnevrus (2)

Epinysson (3)

Zanysson (2)

9. Admedian scutal lines well separated, propodeum not toothed or pronged

10. Second submarginal cell of forewing receiving at least the second recurrent vein

Tribe Gorytini

Ochleroptera (1)

Argogorytes (1)

Gorytes (5)

Pseudoplisus (5)

Oryttus (1)

Psammaletes (1)

Sphecius (2)

Tanyoprymnus (1)

Hoplisoides (5)

10. Second submarginal cell of forewing receiving at most the first recurrent vein

Tribe Mellinini

Mellinus (1)

11. Gaster with petiole composed of sternum only, tergum I removed to distal end of sternum

11. Gaster not petiolate, or petiole composed of both tergum and sternum

12. Forewing with three submarginal cells

Tribe Psenini

Mimumesa (2)

Mimesa (4)

Pseneo (2)

Psen (1)

Pluto (1)

Psenulus (1)

12. Forewing with no more than two submarginal cells

Tribe Pemphredonini (part)

Pemphredon (2)

Cemonus (3)

Passaloecus (3)

Stigmus (3)

Spilomena (3)

Xysma (1)

13. Forewing either with one discoidal cell, at most two submarginal cells, and a much enlarged stigma or two to three submarginal cells, stigma nearly as large as first discoidal cell, two sessile submarginal cells, mandible simple externoventrally, inner orbits not angulate, and hindwing media diverging at or before cu-a

Tribe Pemphredonini (part)

See genera above

13. Without either combination above

14. Hindocelli deformed or greatly reduced

14. Hindocelli normal

15. Hindwing jugal lobe subequal to length of anal area

Tribe Larrini

Larra (1)

Liris (1)

Larropsis (7)

Ancistromma (3)

Tachytes (15)

Tachysphex (13)

15. Hindwing jugal lobe at most a little more than half as long as anal area

Tribe Bembecini

Bicyrtes (5)

Microbembex (1)

Stictia (1)

Bembix (8)

Stictiella (2)

Glenostictia (1)

16. Propodeum with a small, sharp dorsal tooth posterolaterally

Tribe Alyssonini (part)

Alysson (7)

16. Propodeum not distinctly toothed

17. Antennal sockets placed above clypeus by at least one-third of a socket diameter, forewing with three submarginal cells

17. Antennal sockets touching clypeus, or if not, then forewing with fewer than three submarginal cells

18. Hindfemur ending in a flattened plate or truncation

Tribe Cercerini

Cercerus (25)

18. Hindfemur ending normally

19. Inner orbits angulate

Tribe Philanthini

Philanthus (6)

19. Inner orbits straight or smoothly curved

Tribe Aphilanthopsini

Aphilanthops (2)

Clypeadon (1)

20. Inner orbits angulate, often only one submarginal cell in forewing

Tribe Trypoxylonini

Trypoxylon (14)

20. Inner orbits not angulate

21. Forewing with more than one submarginal cell, or more than two discoidal cells, or both (subdiscoidal cell counted as discoidal cell)

21. Forewing with one submarginal cell and one or two discoidal cells

22. Inner orbits converging strongly below

Tribe Bothynotstethini

Bothynostethus (1)

22. Inner orbits not converging strongly below

Tribe Miscophini

Lyroda (2)

Plenoculus (1)

Solierella (4)

Miscophus (1)

23. Forewing with two well defined discoidal cells in addition to the submarginal cell

Tribe Crabronini

Anacrabro (1)

Entomognathus (3)

Lindenius (3)

Rhopalum (4)

Moniaecera (1)

Crossocerus (13)

Crabro (15)

Enoplolindenius (1)

Ectemnius (16)

Lestica (2)

23. Forewing with only one discoidal cell

Tribe Oxybelini

Belomicrus (1)

Oxybelus (15)