A cladistic analysis of the cockroach wasps based on morphological data (Hymenoptera: Ampulicidae)

The Ampulicidae are one of the most basal groups within the apoid wasps, the paraphyletic assemblage of wasps previously known as Sphecidae. The morphology and taxonomy of the Ampulicidae are poorly studied, and there is no strict cladistic approach on their phylogeny yet. Here we assemble morphological characters of phylogenetic significance and submit them to parsimony analyses using modern cladistic methods. This produces a well-resolved and firmly supported phylogenetic hypothesis on the generic relationships within the group. Based on our phylogenetic results a revised classification is provided, subdividing the Ampulicidae into two monophyletic subfamilies, Ampulicinae (Ampulex and Trirogma) and Dolichurinae, the latter comprising two monophyletic tribes, Dolichurini (Dolichurus and Paradolichurus) and Aphelotomini, new tribe (Aphelotoma and Riekefella). Based on the resulting cladogram, the historical biogeography and the fossil record of Ampulicidae are briefly discussed. © The Willi Hennig Society 2009.