Scoliini
Scoliini is a tribe within the , a group of large-bodied commonly known as mammoth wasps or scoliid wasps. The tribe includes such as Scolia, Megascolia, Triscolia, and Microscolia. Recent phylogenetic studies indicate that Scoliini is closely related to the genus Colpa, with which it forms a clade sister to the remaining Campsomerini. Many genera within Scoliini, including Megascolia and Scolia, have been inferred to be non- based on molecular data.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Scoliini: //skəˈliːɪnaɪ//
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Identification
Members of Scoliini can be distinguished from Campsomerini stricto by phylogenetic position, though morphological characters for tribal-level identification require revision. The tribe includes some of the largest scoliid , such as in Megascolia. -level identification relies on combinations of morphological features including , body , and male , though many traditional generic boundaries are not supported by molecular .
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Distribution
. The tribe occurs across multiple continents with constituent showing distinct regional distributions: Microscolia is recorded from the Palaearctic Region (Japan), Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, India, and China; Triscolia includes Australasian ; other genera occur in the Americas, Africa, and Eurasia.
Host Associations
- Parastasia ferrieri (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) - of Microscolia uenoi; biological information for Microscolia indicates larval of scarabaeid
Life Cycle
are of scarabaeid . This trait is characteristic of the and has been explicitly documented for Microscolia within Scoliini.
Ecological Role
As of scarabaeid , members of Scoliini contribute to of , some of which are agricultural pests. This role has led to historical use of scoliid as agents.
Human Relevance
Scoliid have been studied and used as agents against scarabaeid pests. The Bohart Museum of at UC Davis houses approximately 2,300 mammoth wasp specimens, including representatives of Scoliini, supporting research into their and evolution. Recent systematic research using ultraconserved element (UCE) data has focused on resolving the of , including Scoliini, to provide a foundation for future taxonomic revision.
Similar Taxa
- CampsomeriniHistorically treated as a separate tribe, but recent phylogenetic analyses indicate that Campsomerini excluding Colpa (Campsomerini stricto) is sister to the clade comprising Scoliini plus Colpa, rendering Campsomerini non- as traditionally circumscribed.
- ProscoliaProscolia is inferred as sister to all other extant scoliids, placing it outside Scoliini and representing the earliest-diverging lineage of the .
More Details
Taxonomic instability
The higher-level of , including generic boundaries within Scoliini, is in need of revision. Phylogenetic studies have found that Megascolia, Scolia, Campsomeriella, and Dielis are non- as currently circumscribed. Taxonomic changes are recommended to be predicated on expanded geographic and taxonomic sampling.
Evolutionary history
Analyses incorporating fossil data indicate an Early origin of crown , with the split between Scoliini + Colpa and Campsomerini stricto most probably occurring in the Late Cretaceous. Crown ages for Scoliini + Colpa are estimated in the Paleogene, with Nearctic clades showing stem ages consistent with across Beringia during the Oligocene or later Eocene.