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Scoliidae

Classification and checklist of Afrotropical mammoth wasps

(Life: Kingdom: Metazoa (animals); Phylum: Arthropoda; Class: Hexapoda; Order: Hymenoptera; Superfamily: Scolioidea; Family: Scoliidae)
The traditional classification of Betrem & Bradley (1964) is followed here rather than the work of Argaman (1996), which is likely to have artificially over-split the family at generic level. The proposal by Golfetti et al. (2025) to restrict Scolia subgenus Discolia to New World species and to place all Old World Scolia in subgenus Scolia has also not been followed here. See discussion in Taylor (2026) for an overview of the current arbitrary classification that Scoliidae resides in - a major revision of the family is required to establish stability.

  • Subfamily Scoliinae

    • Tribe Campsomerini

      • Genus Cathimeris Betrem, 1972

        • Subgenus Cathimeris Betrem, 1972

          • Cathimeris (Cathimeris) accraensis Betrem, 1972 (Ghana)

          • Cathimeris (Cathimeris) bredoi Betrem, 1972 (Democratic Republic of Congo)

          • Cathimeris (Cathimeris) betremi Betrem, 1972 (Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda)

          • Cathimeris (Cathimeris) capensis (de Saussure, 1858) (Lesotho, Mozambique,

          • South Africa)

          • Cathimeris (Cathimeris) clotho clotho (de Saussure, 1859) (Burundi, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe)

            • Cathimeris (Cathimeris) clotho entebbensis Betrem, 1972 (Uganda)

            • Cathimeris (Cathimeris) clotho ghindae Betrem, 1972 (Ethiopia, Sudan)

            • Cathimeris (Cathimeris) clotho aberdarensis Betrem, 1972 (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda)

            • Cathimeris (Cathimeris) clotho pediflavata Betrem, 1972 (Kenya, Nairobi, Uganda)

            • Cathimeris (Cathimeris) clotho glaucocincta (Bischoff, 1911) (Rwanda)

          • Cathimeris (Cathimeris) dispilus Cameron, (Tanzania)

          • Cathimeris (Cathimeris) deserta deserta (Tullgr., 1904) (Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)

            • Cathimeris (Cathimeris) deserta viridis Betrem, 1972 (Senegal)

          • Cathimeris (Cathimeris) hymenaea hymenaea (Gerstaecker, 1871) (Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zanzibar, Zimbabwe)

            • Cathimeris (Cathimeris) hymenaea bradleyana Betrem, 1972 (Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Zanzibar, Zimbabwe)

            • Cathimeris (Cathimeris) hymenaea afroccidentalis Betrem, 1972 (Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone)

          • Cathimeris (Cathimeris) lachesis lachesis (de Saussure, 1859) (Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zanzibar, Zimbabwe)

            • Cathimeris (Cathimeris) lachesis corrupta Betrem, 1972 (Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Zimbabwe)

          • Cathimeris (Cathimeris) masaica (Cameron, 1910) (Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe)

          • Cathimeris (Cathimeris) pseudocapensis Betrem, 1972 (South Africa, Zimbabwe)

          • Cathimeris (Cathimeris) sjoestedti (Cameron, 1910) (Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania)

        • Subgenus Garantimeris Betrem, 1972

          • Cathimeris (Garantimeris) auraria (de Saussure, 1858) (Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda)

          • Cathimeris (Garantimeris) garamantica Betrem, 1971 (Cameroon)

      • Genus Charimeris Betrem, 1972

        • Charimeris jacoti Betrem, 1972 (Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa, Zimbabwe)

        • Charimeris empeyi Betrem, 1972 (Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe)

        • Charimeris soni Betrem, 1972 (Mozambique, South Africa)

        • Charimeris canirocca Betrem, 1972 (South Africa)

        • Charimeris complicata Betrem, 1972 (Malawi, Mozambique)

        • Charimeris rhodesiella Betrem, 1972 (Zimbabwe)

      • Genus Crioscolia Bradley, 1950

        • Subgenus Punctelis Betrem, 1972

          • Crioscolia (Punctelis) punctum (de Saussure, 1891) (Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe)

      • Genus Dasyscolia Bradley, 1950
      • Genus Extrameris Betrem, 1967

      • Genus Guigliana Betrem, 1967

        • Subgenus Guigliana Betrem, 1967

          • Guigliana (Guigliana) aliena aliena (Klug, 1832) (Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia,
            Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan. Also in Palaearctic region).

          • Guigliana (Guigliana) aliena tanganyikensis Bertrem, 1972 (Kenya, Mozambique, Zimbabwe)

        • Subgenus Hexelis Betrem, 1972

          • Guigliana (Hexelis) hexensis Bertrem, 1971 (South Africa)

        • Subgenus Malagaselis Betrem, 1972

      • Genus Leomeris Betrem, 1972

      • Genus Micromeriella Betrem, 1972

        • Micromeriella atropoides Betrem, 1972 (Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya)

        • Micromeriella atropos (de Saussure, 1859) (Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe)

        • Micromeriella aureola aureola (Klug, 1832) (Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Iran, Kenya, Libya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, Yemen)

          • Micromeriella aureola austroccidentalis Betrem, 1972 (?)

          • Micromeriella aureola babae Betrem, 1972 (Zambia, Zimbabwe)

          • Micromeriella aureola bobi Betrem, 1972 (Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zanzibar, Zimbabwe)

          • Micromeriella aureola dimidiata (Lepeletier, 1845) (Algeria, Mauritania, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia)

          • Micromeriella aureola elegans (Brülle, 1840) (?)

          • Micromeriella aureola godofredi (Sichel, 1858) (Angola, Lesotho, South Africa)

        • Micromeriella difficilis Betrem, 1972 (Ethiopia)

        • Micromeriella dundoensis Betrem, 1972 (Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo)

        • Micromeriella hessi (Betrem & Bradley, 1964) (Nigeria, Uganda)

        • Micromeriella hyalina hyalina (Klug, 1832) (Chad, Egypt, Gambia, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Oman, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sudan)

          • Micromeriella hyalina meruensis (Cameron, 1910) (Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania)

          • Micromeriella hyalina insuperata Betrem & Bradley, 1964 (Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zanzibar, Zimbabwe)

          • Micromeriella hyalina rufopedata Betrem, 1972 (Democratic Republic of Congo)

          • Micromeriella hyalina nigeriensis Betrem, 1972 (Nigeria)

          • Micromeriella hyalina kalaharica Betrem, 1972 (Botswana, South Africa)

          • Micromeriella hyalina guineicola Betrem, 1972 (Ghana, Guinea, Liberia)

        • Micromeriella hyalinopsis Betrem (Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo)

        • Micromeriella rhodesiae Betrem, 1972 (Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe)

      • Genus Megameris Betrem, 1967

        • Subgenus Megameris Betrem, 1967

          • Megameris (Megameris) soleata soleata (Gerstaecker, 1871) (Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zanzibar, Zimbabwe)

          • Megameris (Megameris) soleata quinquemarginata Betrem, 1972 (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda)

          • Megameris (Megameris) soleata princeps (Kirby, 1889) (Mozambique)

          • Megameris (Megameris) soleata dafurensis Betrem, 1972 (Sudan)

          • Megameris (Megameris) labilis (Schulz, 1906) (Gambia)

          • Megameris (Megameris) canens Betrem & Bradley, 1964 (Kenya)

        • Subgenus Fascimeris Betrem, 1972

          • Megameris (Fascimeris) calcigera calcigera Betrem & Bradley, 1964 (Nigeria)

            • Megameris (Fascimeris) calcigera gabonensis Betrem, 1972 (Gabon, Nigeria)

            • Megameris (Fascimeris) calcigera overlaeti Betrem, 1972 (Democratic Republic of Congo)

          • Megameris (Fascimeris) sexfasciata Betrem, 1972 (Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Nigeria, Senegal)

          • Megameris (Fascimeris) quinquefasciata (Fabricius, 1781) (Cameroon, Gabon)

        • Subgenus Cillimeris Betrem, 1972

          • Megameris (Cillimeris) penicillifera Betrem & Bradley (Democratic Republic of Congo)

        • Subgenus Penimeris Betrem, 1972

          • Megameris (Penimeris) pseudofasciatipennis pseudofasciatipennis Betrem, 1972 (Malawi, Tanzania)

            • Megameris (Penimeris) pseudofasciatipennis sheppardi Betrem, 1972 (Zimbabwe)

            • Megameris (Penimeris) pseudofasciatipennis aeripennis Betrem & Bradley (Nigeria)

          • Megameris (Penimeris) nigrocalcarata Betrem, 1972 (Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe)

          • Megameris (Penimeris) marshalli (Turner, 1910) (Zimbabwe)

          • Megameris (Penimeris) leopoldi leopoldi Betrem & Bradley, 1964 (Democratic Republic of Congo)

          • Megameris (Penimeris) leopoldi cameroonensis Betrem, 1972 (Cameroon)

          • Megameris (Penimeris) inexpectata Betrem, 1972 (Democratic Republic of Congo)

          • Megameris (Penimeris) stanleyi Betrem, 1972 (Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon)

        • Subgenus Immanimeris Betrem, 1972

          • Megameris (Immanimeris) immanis Betrem & Bradley, 1964 (Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone)

          • Megameris (Immanimeris) nigricans Betrem, 1972 (Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Uganda)

      • Genus Peltatimeris Betrem, 1972

        • Peltatimeris peltata Betrem, 1971 (Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo)

      • Genus Turbatimeris Betrem, 1972

        • Turbatimeris turbata Betrem, 1972 (Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa)

        • Turbatimeris umtaliensis Betrem, 1972 (Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe)

    • Tribe Scoliini

      • Genus Austroscolia Betrem, 1928

        • Austroscolia bissauensis Bradley, 1959 (Nigeria, Senegal)

        • Austroscolia carnifex Coquerel, 1855 (Aldabra, Madagascar)

        • Austroscolia ebenina ebenina de Saussure, 1858 (Cameroon, Gabon, Gold Coast, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone)

          • Austroscolia ebenina disparilis (Kirby, 1889) (Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe)

        • Austroscolia semitacta Bradley, 1959 (Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)

      • Genus Liacos Guérin-Méneville, 1838

        • Liacos conigra Micha, 1927 (Madagascar)

        • Liacos nigrita nigrita Fabricius, 1781 (Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Principal Islands, Sierra Leone)

          • Liacos nigrita halima Kirby, 1889 (Angola, Eritrea, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe)

        • Liacos sanctithomae Bradley, 1959 (Democratic Republic of Congo, Principal Islands, Senegal)

        • Liacos semipullata de Saussure, 1892 (Madagascar)

      • Genus Microscolia Betrem, 1928

        • Microscolia cereberia Bradley, 1959 (Guinea)

      • Genus Mutilloscolia Bradley, 1959

        • Mutilloscolia campanulata Bradley, 1959 (Madagacascar)

        • Mutilloscolia campanulella Bradley, 1959 (Madagacascar)

      • Genus Pyrrhoscolia Bradley, 1957

        • Pyrrhoscolia fax (Bradley, 1957) (Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe)

        • Pyrrhoscolia usambaraensis (Cameron, 1910) (Tanzania, Uganda)

        • Pyrrhoscolia nigeriensis Bradley, 1959 (Nigeria)

      • Genus Scolia Fabricius, 1775

    • Tribe Trielidini

References

Argaman Q. 1996. Generic synopsis of Scoliidae (Hymenoptera, Scolioidea). Annales Historico-Naturales Musei Nationalis Hungarici 88: 171-222.

Betrem, J.G. & Bradley, J.C. 1964. Annotations on the Genera Triscolia, Megascolia and Scolia (Hymenoptera, Scoliidae). Zoologische Mededelingen 39: 433-444.

Betrem, J.G. & Bradley, J.C. 1964. Annotations on the Genera Triscolia, Megascolia and Scolia (Hymenoptera, Scoliidae) (second part). Zoologische Mededelingen 40: 89-96.

Betrem, J.G. & Bradley, J.C. 1972. The African Campsomerinae (Hymenoptera, Scoliidae). Monografieën van de Nederlandse Entomologische Vereniging 6: 1-326.

Bradley, J.C. 1936. Four new species of Campsomeris (Hym. Scoliidae) from the Malagasy subregion. Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society of London. Series B, Taxonomy 5: 12-17. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3113.1936.tb01304.x

Bradley, J.C. 1959. The Scoliidae of Africa. Annals of the Transvaal Museum 23: 331-362.

Brothers, D.J. & Finnamore A.T. 1993. Superfamily Vespoidea (pp. 161-278). In GOULET, H. & HUBER, J. (eds). Hymenoptera of the World: an identification guide to families. Research Branch, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Canada, 668 pp.

Day, M.C., Else, G.R. & Morgan, D. 1981. The most primitive scoliidae (Hymenoptera). Journal of Natural History 15: 671–684.

Dollfuss, H. 1990. Aculeate Hymenoptera collected 1985 in the Republic of Central Africa (Sphecidae, Eumenidae, Vespidae, Pompilidae, Chrysididae and Scoliidae). Zeitschrift der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Österreichischer Entomologen 42(3/4): 121–124.

Gess, S.K. & Gess, F.W. 2014. Wasps and bees in southern Africa. SANBI Biodiversity Series 24. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. 320 pp.

Golfetti, I.F., da Silva, M., Dos Santos, E.F. & Noll, F.B. 2025. Phylogenetic analysis and biogeography of Scolia (Hymenoptera, Scoliidae, Scoliinae): implications for the classification and origin of Scoliini. Cladistics 41: 304–321.

Guérin-Méneville, F.É., 1838. Histoire Naturelle des Crustacés, Arachnides et Insectes, recueillis dans le voyage autour du Monde de la Corvette de S.M. la Coquille, exécuté pendant les anées 1822–1825 sous le commandement du capitaine Duperry. In Voyage Autour du Monde, exécuté par ordre du Roi, sur la corvette de S.M. la Coquille, pendant les anées 1822–1825. Zoologie, L.I. Duperrey, pp. 57–302. Paris: Arthus Bertrand. Vol. 2. 319 pp.

Guiglia, D. 1957. Sopra alcuni Scoliidei africani del museo del Congo Belga (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae). Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique Africaines 56: 253-262.

Osten, T. 2005. Checkliste der Dolchwespen der Welt (Insecta: Hymenoptera, Scoliidae). Teil 1: Proscoliinae und Scoliinae: Campsomerini. Teil 2: Scoliinae: Scoliini. Teil 3: Literatur. Bericht der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft Augsburg 62 (220–221): 1–62.

Taylor, C.K. 2024. Annotated checklist of family- and genus-group names associated with Scoliidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 97: 945–1006. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.97.134123

Taylor CK. 2026. An updated and annotated checklist of the hairy flower wasps (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae) of the world. Zootaxa 5880: 1–346. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5880.1.1

Credits

Photograph © Hamish Robertson (Iziko Museums).

Web author Simon van Noort (Iziko South African Museum)

 

Citation: van Noort, S. 2026. WaspWeb: Hymenoptera of the World. URL: www.waspweb.org (accessed on <day/month/year>).

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