Family-Level Divergences in the Stinging Wasps (Hymenoptera: Aculeata), with Correlations to Angiosperm Diversification

Diversification in insects has often been linked to the evolution of angiosperms. The majority of studies reporting this link, however, have been done on herbivorous insects. It remains unclear if the diversification of angiosperms was also influential in the diversification of species-rich, carnivorous insect groups. Here we investigate the timing of the origin and diversification in the stinging wasps (Hymenoptera: Aculeata). We employ a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo relaxed clock approach to estimate divergence times for 13 wasp families and eight superfamilies. Divergence times are calibrated with 12 fossils representing groups in various lineages. Our results indicate that many of the modern aculeate families originated during the Cretaceous and in concert with the diversification of angiosperms. This similarity between diversification ages in wasps and in angiosperms may be due to an increased habitat complexity and prey diversity that early angiosperm forests provided.