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HYMENOPTERA, Astatinae (Sphecidae) (Sphecoidea) -- <Images> & <Juveniles>

Please refer also to the following links for details on this group:

Astatinae = Link 1

The family is distributed worldwide except in Australasia and has around 154 species in 6 genera as of 2000. Finnamore & Michener (1993) noted the subfamilies: Astatinae, Dinetinae and Laphyragoginae. Adults nest in the soil, and these are supplied with true bugs. There are about 35 species in North America Finnamore & Michener (1993).

Astatine wasps are a cosmopolitan group of solitary wasps. The largest genus in this subfamily is Astata, peculiar for their males having very large compound eyes that broadly meet at the top of the head.

References: Please refer to <biology.ref.htm>, [Additional references may be found at: MELVYL Library]