Myrmosidae

Myrmosid Wasps

Subfamily Guides

Myrmosidae is a small of in the superfamily Vespoidea, sister to Sapygidae. Formerly treated as a of Mutillidae, it was elevated to family status in 2008 based on molecular and morphological evidence. Females are flightless and kleptoparasitic, entering nests of bees and wasps. The family contains approximately 10 and is distributed globally, though many regions remain understudied.

Myrmosula exaggerata by (c) Rachel Allingham, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Rachel Allingham. Used under a CC-BY license.

Myrmosula nasuta by (c) Jake Nitta, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jake Nitta. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Myrmosidae: /mɪərˈmoʊsɪˌdeɪ/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Myrmosids can be distinguished from the closely related Mutillidae by two key characters: the absence of abdominal "felt lines" (present in mutillids) in both sexes, and the retention of a distinct, unfused pronotum in females (the pronotum is to the in female mutillids).

Images

Distribution

Global distribution with records from Europe (including Germany), Asia (Vietnam and surrounding regions), and other regions. In Vietnam, 77 in 29 have been recorded, though 46% of provinces lack records and southern regions remain understudied. Central European studies confirm presence with at least 3 species documented.

Host Associations

Fossorial bees - KleptoparasiteFemales enter nests to parasitize
Fossorial wasps - KleptoparasiteFemales enter nests to parasitize

Behavior

Females are flightless and actively seek out nests of bees and for kleptoparasitism. Both sexes have been observed visiting flowers globally, with males appearing more in floral visitation than females.

Ecological Role

Kleptoparasites of ground-nesting hymenopterans. Documented as flower visitors with potential pollination role; 42.7% of photographic records show pollen attached to bodies, suggesting incidental pollen transfer. Included in studies of overlooked alongside Mutillidae.

Similar Taxa

MutillidaeExtremely similar in general appearance; distinguished by presence of abdominal felt lines in mutillids (absent in myrmosids) and pronotum- in female mutillids (distinct in myrmosids)

More Details

Taxonomic History

Elevated from Myrmosinae within Mutillidae to rank in 2008 based on classifications of Vespoidea sensu lato by Pilgrim et al. This treatment has been adopted in subsequent studies and faunal reviews.

Floral Interactions

Global review of velvet ant floral visitation included Myrmosidae alongside Mutillidae, documenting flower visiting across multiple plant including Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Rhamnaceae, and Fabaceae.