List Of Wasps Of Great Britain
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This article contains a list of wasps of Great Britain. The following species are of the order
Hymenoptera Hymenoptera is a large order (biology), order of insects, comprising the sawfly, sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants. Over 150,000 living species of Hymenoptera have been described, in addition to over 2,000 extinct ones. Many of the species are Par ...
and suborder
Apocrita Apocrita is a suborder of insects in the order Hymenoptera. It includes wasps, bees, and ants, and consists of many families. It contains the most advanced hymenopterans and is distinguished from Symphyta by the narrow "waist" ( petiole) formed ...
that is neither a
bee Bees are winged insects closely related to wasps and ants, known for their roles in pollination and, in the case of the best-known bee species, the western honey bee, for producing honey. Bees are a monophyly, monophyletic lineage within the ...
nor
ant Ants are eusocial insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from vespoid wasp ancestors in the Cretaceous period. More than 13,800 of an estimated total of 22 ...
.


Family

Dryinidae Dryinidae is a cosmopolitan family of solitary wasps. Its name comes from the Greek ''drys'' for oak: Latreille named the type genus ''Dryinus'' because the first species was collected in an oak plant in Spain. The larvae are parasitoids of the ...


Family

Embolemidae Embolemidae is a family of small solitary parasitoid wasps with around 70 species in 2 genera distributed around the world.van Achterberg, Cornelis & Kats, R.. (2000). Revision of the Palaearctic Embolemidae (Hymenoptera). Zoöl. Med. 74 (2000), ...

* ''
Embolemus ruddii ''Embolemus ruddii'' is a small aculeate wasp in the family Embolemidae Embolemidae is a family of small solitary parasitoid wasps with around 70 species in 2 genera distributed around the world.van Achterberg, Cornelis & Kats, R.. (2000). Rev ...
''


Family

Bethylidae The Bethylidae are a family of aculeate wasps in the superfamily Chrysidoidea. As a family, their biology ranges between parasitoid wasps and hunting wasps. Overview Like most of the Chrysidoidea, the Bethylidae are stinging Hymenoptera and m ...


Family

Chrysididae Commonly known as cuckoo wasps or emerald wasps, the hymenopteran family Chrysididae is a very large cosmopolitan group (over 3000 described species) of parasitoid or kleptoparasitic wasps, often highly sculptured, with brilliant metallic colors ...
(cuckoo wasps)

*''
Chrysis ignita ''Chrysis ignita'' is a species of cuckoo wasp. It is one of a group of species which are difficult to separate and which may be referred to as ruby-tailed wasps. Cuckoo wasps are kleptoparasites – they lay their eggs in the nests of other spec ...
'' *'' Chrysis ruddii'' *'' Chrysis viridula''


Family

Tiphiidae The Tiphiidae (also known as the tiphiid wasps) are a family of large, solitary wasps whose larvae are parasitoids of various beetle larvae, especially those in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea. Until recently, this family contained several additiona ...


Family

Mutillidae The Mutillidae are a family of more than 7,000 species of wasps whose wingless females resemble large, hairy ants. Their common name velvet ant refers to their dense pile of hair, which most often is bright scarlet or orange, but may also be bla ...


Family

Scoliidae The Scoliidae, the scoliid wasps, are a family of about 560 species found worldwide. They tend to be black, often marked with yellow or orange, and their wing tips are distinctively corrugated. Males are more slender and elongated than females, wi ...


Family

Pompilidae Wasps in the family Pompilidae are commonly called spider wasps, spider-hunting wasps, or pompilid wasps. The family is cosmopolitan, with some 5,000 species in six subfamilies. Nearly all species are solitary (with the exception of some group-ne ...
(spider wasps)


Sub-family

Ceropalinae The Ceropalinae are a subfamily of the Pompilidae, the spider wasps, containing two genera, whose members are kleptoparasitic on other solitary wasps which hunt spiders, mainly fellow members of the Pompilidae. The two genera within the Ceropali ...


Genus ''

Ceropales ''Ceropales'' is a genus of kleptoparasitic spider wasps from the sub-family Ceropalinae of the family Pompilidae. They are characterised by the taking of the spider prey of other solitary wasps, mainly Pompilidae but members of the Sphecidae th ...
''

*'' Ceropales maculata ''


Sub-family

Pepsinae The Pepsinae are a subfamily of the spider wasp family, Pompilidae, including the tarantula hawks, as well as smaller species. Genera *''Ageniella'' Banks, 1912 *'' Allaporus'' Banks, 1933 *''Auplopus'' Spinola, 1841 250px, '' Auplopus carbona ...


Genus ''

Auplopus ''Auplopus'' is a large genus of spider wasps belonging to the subfamily Pepsinae of the spider wasp family Pompilidae Wasps in the family Pompilidae are commonly called spider wasps, spider-hunting wasps, or pompilid wasps. The family is cosm ...
''

*'' Auplopus carbonarius''


Genus ''

Cryptocheilus ''Cryptocheilus'' is a genus of spider wasps of the subfamily Pepsinae, they are found in the world's warmer regions. They vary in size from medium to large and are often strikingly coloured. The females construct multicellular nests in cavitie ...
''

*'' Cryptocheilus notatus''


Genus '' Dipogon''

*'' Dipogon bifasciatus'' *''
Dipogon subintermedius ''Dipogon subintermedius'' is a spider wasp from the family Pompilidae. Identification Like '' D. bifasciatus'', this is an all-black species with bifasciated wings, but the female has shorter antennae than ''D. bifasciatus''. Distribution and h ...
'' *'' Dipogon variegatus''


Genus ''

Priocnemis ''Priocnemis'' is a genus of pepsine spider wasp Wasps in the family Pompilidae are commonly called spider wasps, spider-hunting wasps, or pompilid wasps. The family is cosmopolitan, with some 5,000 species in six subfamilies. Nearly all spe ...
''

*'' Priocnemis perturbator''


Sub-family

Pompilinae The Pompilinae are a subfamily of the spider wasp family, Pompilidae, the species of which lay their eggs on the paralysed bodies of their prey. The Pompilinae contain the following genera, not all of which may currently be valid: *'' Abripeps ...


Genus ''

Anoplius ''Anoplius'' is a genus of spider wasps in the family Pompilidae, called the blue-black spider wasps. The genus includes the following species: *'' Anoplius aethiops'' (Cresson 1865) *'' Anoplius americanus'' (Beauvois) *'' Anoplius amethystinu ...
''

*'' Anoplius nigerrimus ''


Genus ''

Aporus ''Aporus'' is a genus of spider wasps from the family Pompilidae Wasps in the family Pompilidae are commonly called spider wasps, spider-hunting wasps, or pompilid wasps. The family is cosmopolitan, with some 5,000 species in six subfamilies. ...
''

*''
Aporus unicolor ''Aporus unicolor'', common name cutpurse, is a highly specialised spider hunting wasp from the family ''Pompilidae''. Description Spinola originally thought that there were two species ''A. unicolor'' and ''A bicolor'' but we now know that these ...
''


Genus ''

Episyron ''Episyron'' is a genus of wasps in the family Pompilidae which prey on spiders. Nine species are found in Europe. Features ''Episyron'' wasps are medium to large in size. The head and thorax have long, dark clustered hair with spotted abdomen ...
''

*'' Episyron gallicum'' *'' Episyron rufipes''


Genus ''

Evagetes ''Evagetes'' is a genus of spider wasps from the family Pompilidae. There are 72 described species, of which 58 are found in the Palaearctic region, 11 in the Nearctic region, with a few penetrating to the Afrotropical, Oriental and Neotropic re ...
''

*'' Evagetes crassicornis''


Genus ''

Homonotus ''Homonotus'' is a genus of spider hunting wasps with an old world distribution, mainly in Africa. Species in the genus include *''Homonotus aegyptiacus'' Turner, 1917 *''Homonotus coxalis'' Dahlbom, 1843 *''Homonotus disparilis'' Turner, 1917 ...
''

*''
Homonotus sanguinolentus ''Homonotus sanguinolentus'', the bloody spider-hunting wasp is a European species of Pompilid wasp. Biology ''Homonotus sanguinolentus'' preys on one species of spider, '' Cheiracanthium erraticum'', which lives on the damper patches of heathla ...
''


Genus '' Pompilus''

*'' Pompilus cinereus''- Leaden spider wasp


Family

Vespidae The Vespidae are a large (nearly 5000 species), diverse, cosmopolitan family of wasps, including nearly all the known eusocial wasps (such as ''Polistes fuscatus'', ''Vespa orientalis'', and ''Vespula germanica'') and many solitary wasps. Each ...


Subfamily Eumeninae (potter and mason wasps)


Genus ''Eumenes''

* ''
Eumenes coarctatus Eumenes (; grc-gre, Εὐμένης; c. 362316 BC) was a Greek general and satrap. He participated in the Wars of Alexander the Great, serving as both Alexander's personal secretary and as a battlefield commander. He later was a participant in th ...
''


Genus ''Pterochilus''

* '' Pterochilus phaleratus''


Genus ''Euodynerus''

* '' Euodynerus quadrifasciatus''


Genus ''Pseudepipona''

* '' Pseudepipona herrichii'' – Purbeck Mason-wasp


Genus ''Odynerus''


=Subgenus ''Odynerus''

= * ''
Odynerus melanocephalus ''Odynerus'' is a primarily Holarctic genus of potter wasps. The name of this genus has been widely used as a root to construct many other genus-level names for potter wasps with non-petiolated metasoma, such as '' Euodynerus'', '' Acarodynerus ...
'' * '' Odynerus spinipes''


=Subgenus ''Spinicoxa''

= * '' Odynerus reniformis'' * ''
Odynerus simillimus ''Odynerus'' is a primarily Holarctic genus of potter wasps. The name of this genus has been widely used as a root to construct many other genus-level names for potter wasps with non-petiolated metasoma, such as ''Euodynerus'', ''Acarodynerus'', ...
''


Genus ''Gymnomerus''

* '' Gymnomerus laevipes''


Genus ''Microdynerus''

* '' Microdynerus exilis''


Genus ''

Ancistrocerus ''Ancistrocerus'' is a widely distributed genus of potter wasps present in many biogeographical regions of the world. They are nonpetiolate eumenine wasps with a transverse ridge at the bending summit of the first metasomal tergum and with a ...
''

* '' Ancistrocerus antilope'' * '' Ancistrocerus gazella'' * '' Ancistrocerus nigricornis'' * '' Ancistrocerus parietinus'' * '' Ancistrocerus parietum'' * '' Ancistrocerus quadratus'' * '' Ancistrocerus scoticus'' * '' Ancistrocerus trifasciatus''


Genus ''Symmorphus''

* ''
Symmorphus bifasciatus ''Symmorphus bifasciatus'', the willow mason-wasp, is a species of potter wasp, from the subfamily Eumeninae of the social wasp family Vespidae which is widely distributed in the Palearctic region. Description ''Symmorphus bifasciatus''is one ...
'' * '' Symmorphus connexus'' * '' Symmorphus crassicornis'' * '' Symmorphus gracilis''


Subfamily Vespinae (social wasps)


Genus ''Polistes''

* ''
Polistes dominula The European paper wasp (''Polistes dominula'') is one of the most common and well-known species of social wasps in the genus ''Polistes''. Its diet is more diverse than those of most ''Polistes'' species—many genera of insects versus mainly ca ...
''


Genus ''Vespa'' (hornets)

* ''
Vespa crabro The European hornet (''Vespa crabro'') is the largest eusocial wasp native to Europe. It is also the only true hornet (genus ''Vespa'') found in North America, having been introduced to the United States and Canada from Europe as early as 1840. ...
'' –
European hornet The European hornet (''Vespa crabro'') is the largest eusocial wasp native to Europe. It is also the only true hornet (genus ''Vespa'') found in North America, having been introduced to the United States and Canada from Europe as early as 1840. ...


Genus ''Dolichovespula''


= Subgenus ''Dolichovespula''

= * ''
Dolichovespula media The median wasp (''Dolichovespula media'') is a species of social wasp of the family Vespidae found throughout Europe and Asia. It builds aerial paper nests often in shrubs or trees, and occasionally under the eaves of buildings. It is most comm ...
'' –
median wasp The median wasp (''Dolichovespula media'') is a species of social wasp of the family Vespidae found throughout Europe and Asia. It builds aerial paper nests often in shrubs or trees, and occasionally under the eaves of buildings. It is most commo ...


= Subgenus ''Pseudovespula''

= * ''
Dolichovespula norwegica The Norwegian wasp (''Dolichovespula norwegica'') is a species of eusocial wasp. It is common in Scandinavia and can also be found in Scotland and other areas in Britain and Ireland. Often known for being a tree wasp, it nests in low branches a ...
'' – Norwegian wasp * ''
Dolichovespula saxonica ''Dolichovespula saxonica,'' also known as the Saxon wasp, is a common social wasp found in the Palearctic region, specifically in large parts of Europe and in northern and central Asia. Although originally from continental Europe, ''D. saxonica ...
'' – Saxon wasp * ''
Dolichovespula sylvestris The tree wasp (''Dolichovespula sylvestris'') is a species of eusocial wasp in the family Vespidae, found in the temperate regions of Eurasia, particularly in western Europe. Despite being called the tree wasp, it builds both aerial and undergrou ...
'' – Tree wasp


Genus ''Vespula'' (typical social wasps)


= Subgenus ''Vespula''

= *''
Vespula austriaca ''Vespula austriaca'' is an obligate parasitic wasp, parasitizing the nests of other species in the genus ''Vespula'' in the Old World. Its common host species include '' V. rufa'' in Europe, Japan, and East Siberia.''V. austriaca ''wasps po ...
'' *''
Vespula rufa ''Vespula rufa'', commonly known as the red wasp,Archer, M. E. (2001). Vespula rufa (Linnaeus,1758). Retrieved from: http://www.bwars.com/index.php?q=wasp/vespidae/vespinae/vespula-rufa is a social wasp species belonging to the genus ''Vespula''. ...
'' – red wasp


= Subgenus ''Paravespula''

= *''
Vespula germanica ''Vespula germanica'', the European wasp, German wasp, or German yellowjacket, is a species of wasp found in much of the Northern Hemisphere, native to Europe, Northern Africa, and temperate Asia. It has spread and become well-established in ma ...
'' –
German wasp ''Vespula germanica'', the European wasp, German wasp, or German yellowjacket, is a species of wasp found in much of the Northern Hemisphere, native to Europe, Northern Africa, and temperate Asia. It has spread and become well-established in ma ...
*''
Vespula vulgaris ''Vespula vulgaris'', known as the Common wasp, is a species found in regions that include the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, India, China, New Zealand and Australia. It is sometimes known in English as the European wasp, but the same name is ...
'' –
common wasp ''Vespula vulgaris'', known as the Common wasp, is a species found in regions that include the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, India, China, New Zealand and Australia. It is sometimes known in English as the European wasp, but the same name is ...


Family

Sphecidae The Sphecidae are a cosmopolitan family of wasps of the suborder Apocrita that includes sand wasps, mud daubers, and other thread-waisted wasps. The name Sphecidae was formerly given to a much larger grouping of wasps. This was found to be p ...


Family

Crabronidae The Crabronidae are a large paraphyletic group (nominally a family) of wasps, including nearly all of the species formerly comprising the now-defunct superfamily Sphecoidea. It collectively includes well over 200 genera, containing well over 9 ...

* '' Cerceris rybyensis'' – ornate tailed digger wasp * ''
Philanthus triangulum The European beewolf (''Philanthus triangulum''), also known as the bee-killer wasp or the bee-eating philanthus (from the now obsolete synonym ''Philanthus apivorus''), is a solitary wasp that lives in the Western Palearctic and Afrotropics. Alt ...
'' – European beewolf


References

* Else, George "Section 10 – Check List of British Hymenoptera Aculeata" in Archer, Michael (2005) ''Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Society Members' Handbook'' (pp. 113 – 131) {{Fauna of Great Britain L
Wasps A wasp is any insect of the narrow-waisted suborder Apocrita of the order Hymenoptera which is neither a bee nor an ant; this excludes the broad-waisted sawflies (Symphyta), which look somewhat like wasps, but are in a separate suborder. T ...
Wasps, Britain
Wasps A wasp is any insect of the narrow-waisted suborder Apocrita of the order Hymenoptera which is neither a bee nor an ant; this excludes the broad-waisted sawflies (Symphyta), which look somewhat like wasps, but are in a separate suborder. T ...
L