Hymenoptera

Classification of Extant Hymenoptera (based on Naumann 1991)

The generally used classification of Hymenoptera does not yet reflect our knowledge of the phylogeny of the order. Traditionally, two suborders are recognized: Symphyta (paraphyletic or perhaps even polyphyletic) and Apocrita. Within the Apocrita the Aculeata form a monophyletic group. In the older literature and even today for convenience, the remaining superfamilies may grouped together as the Terebrantes or Parasitica. Rasnitsyn (1988) has proposed an alternative classification, incorporating extinct taxa, that may be viewed here.

Order Hymenoptera
   Suborder Symphyta
      Superfamily Xyeloidea
      Superfamily Megalodontoidea
      Superfamily Cephoidea
      Superfamily Siricoidea
      Superfamily Tenthredinoidea
   Suborder Apocrita
      Superfamily Stephanoidea
      Superfamily Trgonalyoidea
      Superfamily Megalyroidea
      Superfamily Ceraphronoidea
      Superfamily Evanioidea
      Superfamily Ichneumonoidea
      Superfamily Proctotrupoidea
      Superfamily Platygastroidea
      Superfamily Cynipoidea
      Superfamily Chalcidoidea

     "Aculeata"

      Superfamily Chrysidoidea
      Superfamily Vespoidea
      Superfamily Sphecoidea
      Superfamily Apoidea

                           ,==Cimbicidae
                    ,======|
                    |      `==Tenthredinidae
                    |
                ,===|      ,==Argidae
                |   |   ,==|
                |   |   |  `==Pergidae
                |   `===|
             ,==|       |
             |  |       `=====Electrotomidae
         ,===|  |
         |   |  `=============Blasticotomidae
      ,==|   |
      |  |   `================Xyelotomidae
      |  |   
      |  `====================Xyelidae: Macroxyelinae
      |
 <<===|
      |      ,================Xyelidae: Xyelinae
      |      |
      |  ,===|   ,============Xyelydidae
      |  |   |   |
      |  |   `===|   ,========Pamphiliidae
      |  |       |   |
      |  |       `===|
      |  |           |   ,||||Praesiricidae
      |  |           `===|
      `==|               `====Megalodontidae
         |  
         |           ,========Sepulcidae
         |  ,========|
         |  |        `========Cephidae
         |  |
         `==|        ,========Anaxyelidae
            |  ,=====|
            |  |     `========Gigasiricidae
            `==|
               |  ,===========Siricidae
               |  |
               `==|  ,========Xiphydriidae
                  |  |
                  `==|     ,||Paroryssidae
                     |  ,==|
                     |  |  `==Orussidae
                     `==|
                        `=====Apocrita

Containing clade: Endopterygota

Table of Contents

Sources of Information on the Internet

References

• Hymenoptera Newsletters On-Line
• On-Line Systematic Catalogs of Hymenoptera
• Hymenoptera families (INBIO, Costa Rica)
• Hymenoptera Holdings of the University of Missouri Entomology Museum
• Primary Types of Hymenoptera in the Ohio State University Insect Collection

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Brothers, D.J. 1975.  Phylogeny and classification of the aculeate 
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