The family Scoliidae is represented in America north of Mexico by 20 species and numerous subspecies, in five genera: Campsomeris, Crioscolia, Scolia, Trielis and Triscolia (Krombein 1951, 1958, 1967; Betrem 1972). Arnett (2000) identifies two other species in this family that are "introduced; probably not established."
The scoliid wasps and related families (e.g., parasitic tiphiids, velvet ants) traditionally form a higher group (superfamily) called the Scolioidea. These wasps combine at least two notable features which help place them in an interesting and pivotal position within the Hymenoptera. Firstly, they have the biological characteristics of the more primitive parasitic Hymenoptera, and secondly, they have the morphological characteristics of the more advanced "stinging" wasps.
This combination of characters leads most present day hymenopterists to place ancestral scolioid wasps (and the related bethyloid wasps) as the most primitive of the higher bees, wasps, and ants (Evans and Eberhard 1970, Malyshev 1968, Iwata 1976, Spradbery 1973). Brothers (1975: 577-578) disagreed, however, and stated that "it is not appropriate" to consider a member of the Scolioidea as ancestral to the bees, wasps and ants.
Male scoliids are frequently seen cruising close to the ground in irregular figure eight patterns (Krombein, personal communication). A dozen or so may be skimming the soil's surface, but not be noticed until the eye becomes accustomed to their presence. According to Iwata (1976) a female will land and dig into the soil using first her mandibles and then her fore- and midlegs.
As mentioned above, scoliid larvae are external parasitoids of soil-inhabiting scarab beetle larvae. Some scoliid adults use the scarab's own burrow instead of digging a new one (Iwata 1976). When a female wasp reaches the scarab larva she stings it into paralysis, and then she either lays an egg on the venter of the host (Bradley 1945) or moves the beetle larva deeper into the soil, hollows out a small chamber around it, and lays an egg (Clausen 1940, Iwata 1976).
Clausen (1940) and Fleming (1968) have pointed out that not all larvae which are stung receive an egg, but such larvae never recover from the sting. According to Malyshev (1968) and Iwata (1976) the egg is always laid with its posterior end free of the host body. Scoliidae lay their eggs oriented vertically to the scarab body, while the closely related Tiphiidae lay their eggs oriented horizontally on the larva.
After hatching, the scoliid larva feeds on its scarab host for approximately one to two weeks and then spins an underground cocoon. According to Clausen (1940:307) most species "probably pass the winter in the mature larval stage within the cocoon."
In the 1920s about 15,000 adults of two species of scoliid wasps, Campsomeris annulata Fabricius (=Campsomeriella) and Campsomeris marginella modesta (Smith) (=Micromeriella), were released in the northeastern United States to control the Japanese beetle (Krombein 1948). Even though these wasps were experimentally shown to parasitize this beetle, they did not become established in the United States (also see review by Fleming 1968).
In Florida, three genera are represented by eight species. This publication provides a generalized, simplified pictorial key to genera of American Scoliidae north of Mexico. Then it provides methods for identifying the eight species which occur in Florida.
To key to genus requires examination of the wing venation and antennae. After the genus is determined, refer to the genera listed below and compare abdominal color and pattern to arrive at a species identification. In some cases, size may be useful as well, and the range is given for each species.
The genus key is applicable to both sexes except males of Crioscolia which do not demonstrate the characters of the female. These are most easily identified by association with the female.
Trielis octomaculata (Say)
There are two Nearctic species in this genus, one of which occurs in Florida and the other in the western United States. The Florida species is T. octomaculata (Say) which is divided into three forms or subspecies, with T. o. hermione (Banks) occurring along the Atlantic coast into Florida.
Variation: Body length is 10 to 15 mm. The white spots coalesce at the middle on some segments of some specimens, especially males. |
Scolia nobilitata Fabricius
Variation: Body length is 10 to 15 mm. Segment 1 rarely with faint yellow spots, and those on segments 2 and 3 are sometimes very faint. Segments 4 through 7 may be dark mahogany to black. Distribution: This species is found from the Atlantic coast to Colorado and Arizona. Variation: The white spots coalesce at the middle on some segments of some specimens, especially males. |
Scolia bicincta Fabricius
Variation: Body length is 15 to 20 mm. The white bands on segments 2 and 3 are sometimes broken into spots. Distribution: This species is found throughout the eastern United States. |
Scolia dubia Say
Variation: Body length is 20 to 25 mm. The yellow spots on segment 3 are sometimes very faint or absent. Distribution: This species is found throughout most of the United States. Biology: A few observations on flight and courtship were made in 1918 by Rau and Rau and again in 1932 by Rau. |
Campsomeris quadrimaculata (Fabricius)
Variation: Body length is 15 to 35 mm. Females are easily characterized by the four orange spots which are stable, but the males are quite variable. For this reason I have illustrated the extremes of color variation for males, which vary from segments 2 and 3 with yellow spots, to segments 1 through 4 with yellow bands. Distribution: This species ranges throughout most of the southeastern United States. |
Campsomeris trifasciata (Saussure)
Variation: Body length is 10 to 15 mm. Both females and males have stable coloration and pattern. Distribution: Found in southern Florida and most of the Greater Antilles. Biology: Bradley (1928) reported that this species laid eggs on larvae of the scarab Phyllophaga portoricensis Smyth (presumably in Puerto Rico). |
Campsomeris fulvohirta (Cresson)
Variation: Body length is 15 to 20 mm. This is an uncommon species, and no variation was apparent in the few specimens I have seen. Distribution: This species is known from southern Florida and Cuba. Remarks: Males could be confused with those of C. trifasciata. They may be separated, however, by the last three abdominal segments of fulvohirta being orange-brown while those of trifasciata are black. Also, fulvohirta has the scutellum with two yellow spots, while trifasciata has a single yellow band. |
Campsomeris plumipes fossulana (Fabricius)
Variation: Body length is 15 to 25 mm. Both sexes have stable color patterns. Distribution: The species occurs over almost all of the eastern United States, but is divided into three forms (subspecies). The form in Florida, C. p. fossulana, occurs throughout the lower southeastern United States. Biology: Flower visitation records were given by Krombein (1952) for the Florida subspecies, and Kurczewski (1963) reported on the biology of a Midwestern subspecies. |
Authors: E.E. Grissell, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry.
Originally published as DPI Entomology Circulars 179 and 185. Updated for this publication.
Photographs: Lyle, J. Buss, University of Florida
Graphics: Division of Plant Industry
Project Coordinator: Thomas R. Fasulo, University of Florida
Publication Number: EENY-409
Publication Date: June 2007
Copyright 2007 University of Florida
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