Brachycistidinae

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Brachycistidinae: //ˌbræ.kɪˈsɪs.tɪˌdaɪ.niː//

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Summary

Brachycistidinae is a subfamily of nocturnal tiphiid wasps known for their size and sexual dimorphism, primarily residing in the Nearctic region and associated with beetle larvae as hosts.

Physical Characteristics

Brachycistidinae wasps exhibit extreme sexual dimorphism; females are wingless, resemble ants, and burrow into sand, while males are winged and nocturnal. Males are often attracted to light at night.

Identification Tips

Distinguished from Tiphiinae by having simple claws, lack of the epicnemial suture, and tegulae that do not cover the axillary sclerites of the fore wings. Identification of species often requires collecting both sexes in copula due to their dual taxonomy.

Habitat

Females primarily burrow in sandy soils, living underground, while males are often found around lights at night.

Distribution

Confined to the Nearctic zoogeographic region, particularly the western hemisphere.

Diet

Females are ectoparasitic, targeting fossorial beetle larvae, mainly from the Scarabaeidae and Cicindelinae families.

Life Cycle

The life cycle includes nocturnal males coming to light to breed, while the wingless females remain underground until breeding.

Reproduction

Females emerge at night to mate; instances of dual taxonomy can complicate species identification due to the significant differences between sexes.

Ecosystem Role

As ectoparasites of beetle larvae, they play a role in controlling beetle populations.

Collecting Methods

• Light trapping for males
• Hand collection of females from their burrows

Preservation Methods

• Dry storage in envelopes or vials for museum specimens
• Pinned specimens for display

Evolution

Taxonomy is complex due to similarities in structures and lack of distinctive coloration among species; phylogenetic studies are needed for resolution.

Similar Taxa

• Tiphiinae
• Mutillidae
• Bradynobaenidae

Misconceptions

The extreme sexual dimorphism can lead to misidentification, with males and females sometimes described as separate species.

Tags

• Brachycistidinae
• Tiphiidae
• Nocturnal Wasp
• Parasitic Wasps
• Insecta