Genus Tiphia

Tiphia Fabricius, 1775

~100 spp. in our area

Forewings of both sexes lack the long sclerotized vein that is often nearly bisecting the first cubital cell in Paratiphia and Epomidiopteron (though it may be incomplete). This vein is also lacking in Krombeinia and Neotiphia, which are also abundant west of 100°W.(1)

Anatomical reference by Allen and Jaynes (1930): Oral or mouth area broad, polished triangular area below base of mandible present, labium at most only slightly longer than wide, maxillary palpi large, longer than maxilla; males with lateral margin of 6th sternum not deeply notched and lateral extension of radial cell usually equal or exceeding that of second cubital (submarginal) cell; females with terga and sterna without terminal polished, impunctate, ribbon-like bands and sternum 6 without a broad, shagreened median stripe.

transcontinental; the dominant genus east of 100°W

hosts: soil-inhabiting beetle larvae

Introduced as bio control for the Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica.(2)

Allen, H. W., and Jaynes, H. A. 1930. Contribution to the taxonomy of Asiatic wasps of the genus Tiphia (Scoliidae). Proceedings of the United States National Museum 76(2814): 1-105. (Biodiversity Heritage Library)

Allen, H. W. 1966. A revision of the Tiphiinae (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae) of eastern North America. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 92: 231-356.

Allen, H. W. 1971. A monographic study of the genus Tiphia (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae) of western North America. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 97: 201-359.