Xiphydriidae Temporal range:
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Xiphydria type genus of the family Xiphydriidae | |
Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Superfamily: | Xiphydrioidea |
Family: |
Xiphydriidae Leach, 1815 |
Xiphydriidae are a family of wood wasps that includes around 150 species. They are located all over the world including North and South America, Australia, Europe, and others. [1] Xiphydriidae larvae are wood borers in dead trees or branches of a range of trees. [2] They are characterized as having long and skinny necks with dome-shaped heads. [3] The oldest fossils of the group are from the mid Cretaceous. [4]
These 29 genera belong to the family Xiphydriidae: [5]
Most of the species of Xiphydriidae have antennae that are filiform. [3] The antennal segments vary in number ranging from 14 to 22. [3] The maxillary and labial palpi shape and length varies by species. They have an occipital carina which is a ridge in the back of the head. [3] The head is somewhat spherical and is shiny. [6]
The pronotum is medially constricted in Xiphydriidae. [6] The defined axillae completely separates the scutum laterally from the mesoscutellum. [7] Parts of the thorax for Xiphydriidae are generally smooth and shiny. [3]
The segment of the abdomen called the gaster can have an orange, red, or yellow coloring pattern. [7]
A study by David R. Smith broke the Xiphydriidae into different groups by their abdomen. The groups were as follows:
The Xiphydriidae larvae phytophagous, meaning bore into dead or weak trees and plants. [7] When they are buried in these trees, they rely on symbiotic fungi for food in the tunnels that they made. [1] The larva either do not have legs or they have vestigial legs. During the larval stage, the head of Xiphydriidae is as long as broad. [8] As a larva, the antenna contains either three or four segments. The first segment of the antenna does not have setae and is not enlarged. [8]
Adults are 6-21mm long. Adult Xiphydriidae are most commonly found in shadowy places and run on the surface of leaves. [9] The adults have heads that are spherical which are attached to long and skinny necks. [3]
Xiphydriidae bore and feed into dying or weakened trees so they do not have a negative effect to the environment. [10] They can be a secondary pest to humans because of the dead wood people may bring into their homes. [8] Xiphydriidae can be a host for parasitoid Aulacidae and they emerge from larvae that are fully grown. [11]
In Japan, female Xiphydriidae were dissected and fungal spores were found. [12] The spores were 5 to 30 micrometers in diameter and had a globular shape. Mucus was also in the glandular organs of some of the wood wasps. [12]
Xiphydriidae Temporal range:
| |
---|---|
![]() | |
![]() | |
Xiphydria type genus of the family Xiphydriidae | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Superfamily: | Xiphydrioidea |
Family: |
Xiphydriidae Leach, 1815 |
Xiphydriidae are a family of wood wasps that includes around 150 species. They are located all over the world including North and South America, Australia, Europe, and others. [1] Xiphydriidae larvae are wood borers in dead trees or branches of a range of trees. [2] They are characterized as having long and skinny necks with dome-shaped heads. [3] The oldest fossils of the group are from the mid Cretaceous. [4]
These 29 genera belong to the family Xiphydriidae: [5]
Most of the species of Xiphydriidae have antennae that are filiform. [3] The antennal segments vary in number ranging from 14 to 22. [3] The maxillary and labial palpi shape and length varies by species. They have an occipital carina which is a ridge in the back of the head. [3] The head is somewhat spherical and is shiny. [6]
The pronotum is medially constricted in Xiphydriidae. [6] The defined axillae completely separates the scutum laterally from the mesoscutellum. [7] Parts of the thorax for Xiphydriidae are generally smooth and shiny. [3]
The segment of the abdomen called the gaster can have an orange, red, or yellow coloring pattern. [7]
A study by David R. Smith broke the Xiphydriidae into different groups by their abdomen. The groups were as follows:
The Xiphydriidae larvae phytophagous, meaning bore into dead or weak trees and plants. [7] When they are buried in these trees, they rely on symbiotic fungi for food in the tunnels that they made. [1] The larva either do not have legs or they have vestigial legs. During the larval stage, the head of Xiphydriidae is as long as broad. [8] As a larva, the antenna contains either three or four segments. The first segment of the antenna does not have setae and is not enlarged. [8]
Adults are 6-21mm long. Adult Xiphydriidae are most commonly found in shadowy places and run on the surface of leaves. [9] The adults have heads that are spherical which are attached to long and skinny necks. [3]
Xiphydriidae bore and feed into dying or weakened trees so they do not have a negative effect to the environment. [10] They can be a secondary pest to humans because of the dead wood people may bring into their homes. [8] Xiphydriidae can be a host for parasitoid Aulacidae and they emerge from larvae that are fully grown. [11]
In Japan, female Xiphydriidae were dissected and fungal spores were found. [12] The spores were 5 to 30 micrometers in diameter and had a globular shape. Mucus was also in the glandular organs of some of the wood wasps. [12]