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Beewolves, genus Philanthus, are solitary hunting wasps in the family Crabronidae (some recent classifications place them in their own family, Philanthidae). Most are about 12 to 18 mm long, and the exact size and color pattern vary by species. They are sturdy wasps with a large, broad head and are usually black with bright yellow, cream or white bands and spots on the face, thorax and abdomen, with some species showing reddish areas. Unlike many wasps, they have no narrow waist at the front of the abdomen: the first abdominal segment is about as wide as the second, which helps separate the genus from its relatives.
There are about 135 to 140 species of Philanthus worldwide, found across North America, Europe, Asia and Africa, and BugGuide lists 32 species in North America north of Mexico. Beewolves favor warm, open, sunny places with bare, well drained soil where females can dig nests, such as sandy areas, dunes, fields, roadsides and prairies. Adults are often seen on flowers, and they also hunt around natural bee nests and apiaries.
Females hunt bees to feed their young. A female grabs a bee, stings it on the soft underside where the venom quickly paralyzes it without killing it, and carries it back to her nest in flight. Many species prey mostly on sweat bees (family Halictidae), while others take a wider range of bees and wasps. The European beewolf, Philanthus triangulum, specializes in honey bees. Adults feed on flower nectar. Males are territorial: they perch on plants near nesting areas and mark twigs, leaves and other objects with scent from their head glands to attract females and warn off rival males.
Beewolves go through complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult). Each female digs a burrow in the soil with side tunnels ending in brood cells. In Philanthus triangulum the main tunnel can be up to about 1 meter long, with as many as 34 cells, each stocked with one to six paralyzed bees. She lays an egg on the stored prey, and the larva feeds on the bees, then spins a cocoon. Female European beewolves grow Streptomyces bacteria in special glands in their antennae and smear them inside the brood cell. The larva works the bacteria into its cocoon, where they produce antibiotics that protect it from mold and harmful microbes in the damp soil. Larvae usually spend the winter inside the cocoon and finish developing into adults the next summer.
Most beewolves have little economic impact. They are harmless to people: females rarely sting unless handled, and males cannot sting at all. Because they hunt bees, they can be a minor pest of beekeepers where Philanthus triangulum becomes common near apiaries. Their antennal bacteria are also of interest to scientists studying natural antibiotics.
This preserved specimen educates on bee hunting wasps and their remarkable nesting and parenting behavior, suitable for displays or studies. Check it out on BugGuide! https://bugguide.net/node/view/4345
Beewolves, genus Philanthus, are solitary hunting wasps in the family Crabronidae (some recent classifications place them in their own family, Philanthidae). Most are about 12 to 18 mm long, and the exact size and color pattern vary by species. They are sturdy wasps with a large, broad head and are usually black with bright yellow, cream or white bands and spots on the face, thorax and abdomen, with some species showing reddish areas. Unlike many wasps, they have no narrow waist at the front of the abdomen: the first abdominal segment is about as wide as the second, which helps separate the genus from its relatives.
There are about 135 to 140 species of Philanthus worldwide, found across North America, Europe, Asia and Africa, and BugGuide lists 32 species in North America north of Mexico. Beewolves favor warm, open, sunny places with bare, well drained soil where females can dig nests, such as sandy areas, dunes, fields, roadsides and prairies. Adults are often seen on flowers, and they also hunt around natural bee nests and apiaries.
Females hunt bees to feed their young. A female grabs a bee, stings it on the soft underside where the venom quickly paralyzes it without killing it, and carries it back to her nest in flight. Many species prey mostly on sweat bees (family Halictidae), while others take a wider range of bees and wasps. The European beewolf, Philanthus triangulum, specializes in honey bees. Adults feed on flower nectar. Males are territorial: they perch on plants near nesting areas and mark twigs, leaves and other objects with scent from their head glands to attract females and warn off rival males.
Beewolves go through complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult). Each female digs a burrow in the soil with side tunnels ending in brood cells. In Philanthus triangulum the main tunnel can be up to about 1 meter long, with as many as 34 cells, each stocked with one to six paralyzed bees. She lays an egg on the stored prey, and the larva feeds on the bees, then spins a cocoon. Female European beewolves grow Streptomyces bacteria in special glands in their antennae and smear them inside the brood cell. The larva works the bacteria into its cocoon, where they produce antibiotics that protect it from mold and harmful microbes in the damp soil. Larvae usually spend the winter inside the cocoon and finish developing into adults the next summer.
Most beewolves have little economic impact. They are harmless to people: females rarely sting unless handled, and males cannot sting at all. Because they hunt bees, they can be a minor pest of beekeepers where Philanthus triangulum becomes common near apiaries. Their antennal bacteria are also of interest to scientists studying natural antibiotics.
This preserved specimen educates on bee hunting wasps and their remarkable nesting and parenting behavior, suitable for displays or studies. Check it out on BugGuide! https://bugguide.net/node/view/4345
| Weight | 0.01 lbs |
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