Myzininae
Myzininae is a of within the Thynnidae (formerly placed in ). The subfamily is best known through the Myzinum, which exhibits extreme . Females are , of , while males are slender, non-stinging, and frequently observed on flowers. in this subfamily are found primarily in the Nearctic region, with ten recognized species north of Mexico.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Myzininae: //ˌmaɪzɪˈnaɪni//
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Identification
Males and females are strikingly different in appearance and may be mistaken for separate . Females have , stout legs adapted for digging, and short, coiled . Males are slender and streamlined with long, straight antennae. Males possess a curled, -like pseudostinger at the abdominal tip (part of the external ) that resembles a true but cannot deliver . Species-level identification within Myzinum is extremely difficult even for ; a revised for Nearctic species was published by Kimsey (2009).
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Distribution
Primarily Nearctic; found across much of North America east of the Rocky Mountains and in the Southwest. The Myzinum contains ten recognized north of Mexico. Myzinum maculata is specifically noted as common in Florida.
Seasonality
are active in late summer and autumn, with peak abundance coinciding with the blooming of autumn wildflowers such as goldenrod (Solidago) and thoroughwort (Eupatorium).
Host Associations
- Phyllophaga spp. - Female locate underground, them into brief paralysis, and a single . The wasp consumes the grub from within, eventually killing it.
Life Cycle
Females lay single on paralyzed . The hatches and bores into the , feeding internally while the grub continues to live and feed temporarily. The larva eventually kills the host, then pupates and emerges as an the following summer.
Behavior
Males gather in on vegetation in the early evening, a described as "slumber parties." Males spend more time on flowers than females and are therefore more frequently observed. Females are solitary and , spending time underground locating .
Ecological Role
of , including economically important turf pests. Provides of in turfgrass .
Human Relevance
Potential value in of turfgrass pests. Males lack functional and cannot humans; females can sting but are not aggressive. The extreme often causes confusion among observers who mistake males and females for different .
Similar Taxa
- TiphiinaeAlso with similar biology, but Myzininae is distinguished by revised taxonomic placement and specific associations with .
- Other aculeate waspsThe male pseudostinger and extreme in Myzinum are distinctive; most other groups show less pronounced differences and males do not possess such prominent genital structures.
More Details
Taxonomic History
Myzininae was historically placed in the but has been reclassified into Thynnidae based on phylogenetic revisions. The Myzinum was revised for the Nearctic region by Kimsey (2009), who provided updated descriptions and identification to address long-standing taxonomic confusion.