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

Tribe [Deuterageniini]

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

Tribe [Pepsini]

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

Tribe [Priocnemini]

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

Tribe [Psoropempulini]

Psoropempula Evans, 1974

''Incertae sedis''

Aberropompilus Shimizu & Wahis, 2016