Ampulex

{{Short description|Genus of wasps}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Ampulex compressa.jpg | image_caption = ''Ampulex compressa'' | taxon = Ampulex | authority = Jurine, 1807 | type_species = ''Ampulex compressa'' | type_species_authority = (Fabricius, 1781) | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = >130 species }}

'''''Ampulex''''' is a large cosmopolitan genus of wasps belonging to the family Ampulicidae. Most of the >130 species occur in the tropics, particularly in the Old World, and fewer than 15 are known from the New World; fewer than 5 species are native to Europe or the United States, though the Old World species ''Ampulex compressa'' has spread to virtually everywhere that its host roaches (esp. the genus ''Periplaneta'') can be found.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Soares|first1=M. A.|last2=Moreira|first2=P. S. A.|last3=Campos|first3=L. a. O.|last4=Nogueira|first4=R. M.|last5=Pereira|first5=M. R.|last6=Campos|first6=A. K.|last7=Pires|first7=E. M.|last8=Soares|first8=M. A.|last9=Moreira|first9=P. S. A.|date=August 2014|title=First report of "jewel wasp" Ampulex compressa (Fabricius, 1781) (Hymenoptera: Ampulicidae) in the Amazon Biome of Brazil|journal=Brazilian Journal of Biology|language=en|volume=74|issue=3|pages=S233–S234|doi=10.1590/1519-6984.05913|pmid=25627390|issn=1519-6984|doi-access=free}}</ref> The few species whose biology is known are parasitoids of cockroaches; they typically inject venom into the roach that subdues or immobilizes it,<ref>{{cite journal|last=Gal|first=Ram|author2=Rosenberg, Lior Ann |author3=Libersat, Frederic |date=November 2005|title=Parasitoid wasp uses a venom cocktail injected into the brain to manipulate the behavior and metabolism of its cockroach prey|journal=Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology|volume=60|issue=4|pages=198–208|url=http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/112152224/abstract|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630121423/http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/112152224/abstract|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-06-30|doi=10.1002/arch.20092|pmid=16304619|url-access=subscription}}</ref> and then lay one to two eggs between the legs of the defenseless roach.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Eizemberg|first1=Roberto|last2=Bressan-Nascimento|first2=Suzete|last3=Fox|first3=Eduardo Gonçalves Paterson|date=September 2009|title=Notes on the Biology and Behaviour of the Jewel Wasp, Ampulex compressa (Fabricius, 1781) (Hymenoptera; Ampulicidae), in the Laboratory, Including First Record of Gregarious Reproduction|journal=Entomological News|volume=120|issue=4|pages=430–437|doi=10.3157/021.120.0412|s2cid=83564852 |issn=0013-872X}}</ref>

== Selected species == *''Ampulex canaliculata'' Say, 1823<ref>[https://bugguide.net/node/view/82069 Image of A. canaliculata]</ref> *''Ampulex compressa'' (Fabricius, 1781) – jewel wasp or emerald cockroach wasp *''Ampulex dementor'' Ohl, 2014 *''Ampulex fasciata'' Jurine, 1807 *''Ampulex ferruginea'' Bradley, 1934 *''Ampulex ruficollis'' Cameron, 1888

For further species see ITIS.<ref>{{ITIS|id=154311|taxon=''Ampulex''}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

Category:Ampulicidae Category:Biological pest control wasps Category:Apoidea genera