Beewolf
Philanthus | |
---|---|
European beewolf (Philanthus triangulum) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Crabronidae |
Tribe: | Philanthini |
Genus: | Philanthus Fabricius, 1790 |
Type species | |
Philanthus coronatus (Thunberg, 1784)
|
Beewolves (genus Philanthus), also known as bee-hunters or bee-killer wasps, are solitary,
As with all other
The prevalent European species,
They are notable for stinging their prey in a membranous location on the ventral surface, where the venom quickly paralyzes major voluntary muscles, yet does not kill the prey. The prey may attempt to sting in return, but it is always grabbed in such a way that only well-armored portions of the beewolf's body are presented. The beewolf carries its prey back to a tunnel, but usually only stores it temporarily, until it is later used to provision a cell burrow, where an egg is laid.[3]
The tunnel of Philanthus triangulum can be as much as 1 m long. The first part of the tunnel slopes downward at an angle of 30°, after which it levels out. Up to 34 lateral tunnels, each ending in a brood chamber, branch off from the main tunnel. Each brood chamber is stocked with one to six honeybees.[3]
Species
The genus Philanthus contains about 135 species,[5] including:[6][7]
- Philanthus albopilosus (syn. P. simillimus)
- Philanthus arizonicus
- Philanthus banabacoa
- Philanthus barbatus
- Philanthus barbiger
- Philanthus basilaris
- Philanthus bicinctus – bumblebeewolf
- Philanthus bilunatus
- Philanthus boharti – Bohart's beewolf
- Philanthus coarctatus (syn. P. niloticus)
- P. c. coarctatus
- P. c. raptor – robber philanthus
- P. c. siculus
- Philanthus coronatus – crowned philanthus
- P. c. coronatus
- P. c. orientalis
- Philanthus crabroniformis
- Philanthus crotoniphilus
- Philanthus elegantissimus
- Philanthus fuscipennis
- Philanthus gibbosus
- Philanthus gloriosus
- Philanthus histrio
- Philanthus inversus
- Philanthus lepidus
- Philanthus levini – Levin's beewolf
- Philanthus loeflingi – Loefling's beewolf
- Philanthus michelbacheri – Michelbacher's beewolf
- Philanthus multimaculatus
- Philanthus nasalis
- Philanthus neomexicanus
- Philanthus occidentalis
- Philanthus pacificus
- Philanthus parkeri – Parker's beewolf
- Philanthus politus
- Philanthus psyche
- Philanthus pulchellus
- Philanthus pulcher
- Philanthus sanborni – Sanborn's beewolf
- Philanthus saxigenus
- Philanthus schusteri – Schuster's beewolf
- Philanthus sculpturatus
- Philanthus serrulatae (syn. P. siouxensis)
- Philanthus solivagus
- Philanthus stygius
- P. s. stygius
- P. s. atronitens
- Philanthus tarsatus
- Philanthus triangulum – European beewolf
- Philanthus variegatus
- Philanthus ventilabris
- Philanthus ventralis (syn. Ococletes ventralis)
- Philanthus venustus
- Philanthus zebratus
Gallery
-
Philanthus sp. capturing prey
-
European beewolf carrying a honeybee to its tunnel
See also
References
- ^ Williams, Paul H. (2014). Bumble Bees of North America : An Identification Guide. p. 208.
- ^ Yeo, P.F. & Corbet, S.A. Solitary wasps. Naturalists Handbooks 3. The Richmond Publishing Co. Ltd, 1995, 2nd ed.
- ^ a b c Piper, Ross (2007). Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals. Greenwood Publishing Group.
- .
- .
- ^ Philanthus. Archived 2014-11-01 at the Wayback Machine WaspWeb. Iziko Museums of South Africa.
- ^ Philanthus. Fauna Europaea.
External links
- Semiochemicals of Genus Philanthus. Pherobase.
- Philanthus. BugGuide.net