Vespoidea

Vespoidea is a superfamily of wasps within the order Hymenoptera, suborder Apocrita. Members are diverse in habit and ecology, ranging from solitary hunters to highly social species. They occupy roles as predators of other arthropods, parasitoids, or in some lineages as scavengers. The best-known vespoids are the social wasps in the family Vespidae, which include paper wasps, hornets, and yellowjackets.

Taxonomy and classification: The circumscription of Vespoidea has varied considerably in different classifications. Traditional schemes placed several families with vespoid features into Vespoidea, notably Vespidae, Pompilidae (spider wasps), Evaniidae (ensign wasps), and Scoliidae (flower wasps). In contemporary classifications driven by molecular data, the boundaries of Vespoidea have been reinterpreted, and some families have been moved to adjacent groups; as a result, not all authorities agree on the exact composition of Vespoidea.

Anatomy and biology: Vespoids typically possess a petiole that forms a narrow waist, though this feature varies among taxa. Habitats are diverse, from forests to grasslands and urban environments. Ecologically, many vespoids are predators or parasitoids: Pompilidae hunt spiders; Evaniidae lay eggs in cockroach egg cases; Scoliidae parasitize beetle larvae; Vespidae include both solitary and eusocial species that provision nests with captured prey for their larvae.

Distribution: Vespoidea are found worldwide, with greatest diversity in warm and tropical regions.

Evolution and phylogeny: Vespoidea is a major lineage within Aculeata. Ongoing phylogenetic research continues to refine its internal relationships and higher-level placement among Hymenoptera.