#beewolves

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Presenting, European Beewolf

[sandpaperoctopi]

beewolf 🐝🐺

[lithobatess]

Wasp-Posting-Wednesday!!

Today’s wasp is Philanthus sp, a beewolf, however; even though the word ‘bee’ is in the name, they are actually wasps! The females are specialized bee hunters, and they bring these bees back to small burrows where the wasps’ larvae will feed on the bee. Male beewolves will mark their territory with pheromones, and aggressively defend it from other males. Though they look intimidating, the adults only eat nectar and pollen!

> find more lovely pictures of beewolves on bugguide.net!

[green-algae]

Beewolves [genus Philanthus], also known as bee-killers of bee-hunters, are solitary wasps which prey on bees. Adult females dig tunnels into the ground which can be as long as a meter, at the end of which she lays her eggs, complete with a live but paralyzed bee on which her offspring will feed upon hatching. Images by Gary McDonald.

[mrabs]

Singel Bees Bees range in size from tiny stingless bee species whose workers are less than 2 millimetres (0.08 in) long, to…