Studies in the Tiphiidae, X: Hylomesa, a New Genus of Myzinine Wasp Parasitic on Larvae of Longicorn Beetles (Hymenoptera)

Hylomesa differs from its closest relative, Mesa Saussure, in a number of characters of generic significance, the most important of which reflect a change in prey preferences from soil-inhabiting scarabaeid larvae to wood-boring cerambycid larvae. The porrect, quadrate head and generally more slender body of the female are obvious adaptations for traversing the narrow tunnels of wood-boring beetle larvae; one is reminded of similar head and body shape in such bethylid genera as Scleroderma and Nesepyris, which also parasitize woodboring beetle larvae. The stout, slightly curved mandibles of Hylomesa with an inner subapical tooth are adapted for chewing through wood