Scarab-parasite
Guides
Colocistis castanea
Colocistis castanea is a species of wasp in the family Tiphiidae. The genus Colocistis belongs to a group of solitary wasps that are primarily parasitoids of scarab beetle larvae. Members of Tiphiidae are known for their specialized biology involving subterranean hosts, with females often possessing fossorial (digging) adaptations to access beetle grubs in soil. This species was described by Cresson in 1865.
Lalapa
Lalapa is a genus of wasps in the family Tiphiidae, first described by Pate in 1947. The genus contains at least one species, Lalapa lusa, whose name is a humorous play on words sounding like "la-la palooza." These wasps belong to a group of solitary, ground-nesting parasitoids that attack scarab beetle larvae.
Myzinum
New World Banded Thynnid Wasps
Myzinum is a genus of thynnid wasps containing approximately 63 recognized species, with 10 species occurring in North America. Adults measure 7–24 mm and exhibit extreme sexual dimorphism: males are slender with long, straight antennae and a prominent curled pseudostinger at the abdomen tip, while females are robust with short, coiled antennae and stout legs adapted for digging. These wasps are parasitoids of scarab beetle grubs, particularly Phyllophaga species, and are used as biological control agents. They are most diverse in the Neotropics and are commonly observed visiting autumn wildflowers such as goldenrod and thoroughwort.
Myzinum dubiosum
Myzinum dubiosum is a species of thynnid wasp in North America. Like other members of the genus, it exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism: males are slender with long, straight antennae and a prominent curled pseudostinger (part of the external genitalia), while females are larger-bodied with robust abdoments, stouter legs adapted for digging, and short, coiled antennae. The species is a parasitoid of scarab beetle grubs, particularly Phyllophaga species. Adults are active in late summer and autumn, frequently visiting flowers such as goldenrod and thoroughwort.
Myzinum maculatum
Myzinum maculatum is a species of thynnid wasp native to North America. It is a parasitoid of scarab beetle grubs, particularly Phyllophaga (May beetle) larvae, and has been employed as a biological control agent for turf grass pests. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism: males are slender with long straight antennae and a prominent curled pseudostinger, while females are robust with short coiled antennae and stout legs adapted for digging.
Paratiphia robusta
Paratiphia robusta is a species of wasp in the family Tiphiidae, a group of solitary wasps known for their parasitoid relationships with scarab beetle larvae. The genus Paratiphia belongs to a family whose members are typically ground-nesting and exhibit host-specific parasitism. Limited published information exists specifically for this species, with most knowledge derived from broader family-level characteristics and sparse collection records. The species has been documented through a small number of observations, suggesting it may be uncommon or underreported.
Pelecinidae
pelecinid wasps
Pelecinidae is a family of parasitic wasps in the superfamily Proctotrupoidea, containing only one living genus, Pelecinus, with three extant species restricted to the Americas. The family was highly diverse during the Cretaceous, with fossils from 43 species in a dozen genera found across North America, Europe, and Asia dating back to the early Cretaceous (121–124 mya). Today, the family is represented by a single genus with three species: Pelecinus polyturator (widespread from southern Canada through South America), P. thoracicus (Mexico), and P. dichrous (South America). All species are parasitoids of scarab beetle larvae.
Pelecinus
American pelecinid wasps, snake-tailed wasps
Pelecinus is the sole living genus of the family Pelecinidae, containing three species restricted to the New World. Females are immediately recognizable by their extraordinarily elongated, thread-like abdomens that can exceed 5 cm in length, used to probe soil and deposit eggs on scarab beetle larvae. The genus represents a relict lineage with extensive fossil diversity dating to the early Cretaceous across multiple continents.
Prosena siberita
Prosena siberita is a tachinid fly with a distinctive elongated proboscis that folds beneath the body. Adults feed on nectar and pose no threat to humans or plants. The species was introduced to the United States in 1925 as a biological control agent targeting scarab beetle larvae, particularly the Japanese beetle. It has established populations across a broad geographic range spanning Eurasia, Australasia, and North America.
Ptilodexia
Ptilodexia is a genus of tachinid flies (Diptera: Tachinidae) established by Brauer & Bergenstamm in 1889. Species in this genus are parasitoids of scarab beetle larvae, particularly those in the families Melolonthidae and Scarabaeidae. The genus is distributed across the Americas, with records from North, Central, and South America. At least 57 species have been described.
Pygodasis quadrimaculata
Large Four-spotted Scoliid Wasp
Pygodasis quadrimaculata, commonly known as the Large Four-spotted Scoliid Wasp, is a species of scoliid wasp in the family Scoliidae. Scoliid wasps are solitary, ground-nesting wasps that parasitize scarab beetle larvae. This species is notable for its large size among scoliids and its distinctive four-spotted wing pattern. The species has been documented in 1,712 observations on iNaturalist, indicating it is relatively well-observed and likely not rare in its range.
Stilbopogon
Stilbopogon is a genus of wasps in the family Tiphiidae, established by Mickel and Krombein in 1942. These insects belong to a family known for parasitoid relationships with scarab beetle larvae. The genus remains poorly documented in public sources, with minimal observational records available.
Tiphiidae
Tiphiid Flower Wasps, Tiphiid Wasps, Flower Wasps
Tiphiidae is a family of large, solitary wasps whose larvae are parasitoids of beetle larvae, particularly scarab beetles (Scarabaeoidea). The family has undergone significant taxonomic revision, with former subfamilies now reclassified as the separate family Thynnidae. Some members, particularly in the subfamily Brachycistidinae, exhibit striking sexual dimorphism: males are winged and aerial, while females are wingless and fossorial, hunting ground-dwelling beetle larvae.
Triscolia ardens
Fire-tailed Scoliid Wasp
Triscolia ardens is a large scoliid wasp and the sole member of its genus occurring in North America north of Mexico. Females are robust with short antennae and hunt subterranean scarab beetle grubs as hosts for their larvae. Males possess long antennae and a distinctive three-pronged pseudosting at the abdomen tip. The species is recognized by its black integument and setae on the head and first two gaster segments, with the remainder of the gaster bright red.