Vespoidea facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vespoidea
Dolichovespula maculata, Bald faced hornet
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Suborder:	Apocrita
Superfamily:	Vespoidea

Vespoidea is a big group of insects that includes many different kinds of wasps and ants. They are all part of the larger insect group called Hymenoptera, which also includes bees. These insects are found all over the world and play important roles in their environments.

What Kinds of Insects Are in Vespoidea?

This group, Vespoidea, is made up of several different families of insects. Each family has its own unique features and behaviors. Here are some of the main families you might find:

• Bradynobaenidae: These are a less common family of wasps.
• Formicidae: This family includes all the ants. Ants are social insects that live in large colonies and are known for their organized behavior.
• Mutillidae: These are often called velvet ants. Even though they look like fuzzy ants, they are actually a type of wasp! The females do not have wings.
• Pompilidae: These are known as spider wasps. They are famous for hunting spiders to feed their young.
• Rhopalosomatidae: These are a small family of wasps.
• Sapygidae: These are also a smaller group of wasps.
• Scoliidae: These are often called scoliid wasps. They are usually large and hairy.
• Sierolomorphidae: This is another small family of wasps.
• Tiphiidae: These are tiphiid wasps. Many of them are parasites of beetle larvae.
• Vespidae: This is a very well-known family of wasps. It includes many common types like paper wasps, hornets, potter wasps, and yellow jackets. Many of these wasps build nests and live in groups.

Images for kids

• 

  Ancistrocerus antilope female. Family Vespidae

See also

In Spanish: Vespoidea para niños