شناسایی Wasps, Sawflies, Ants and Bees (Hymenoptera)

[afsoon6282]

Bumblebees Bombus species

Bumblebees Bombus species

Bumblebees Bombus species

Bumblebees are big and extremely hairy bees, rather closely related to the well-known Honeybee. Most species live in colonies. But they do not store food (honey) to survive winter. The little food they do store serves as a reserve to feed the larvae and the egg-producing queen, or is used to survive cold, windy and rainy days. Just like in social wasps the colony dies, usually in late summer or autumn and the new queens seek for a place to hibernate. A bumblebee colony normally is much smaller than the colonies of Honeybees or wasps, which may be comprised of several thousand individuals. Most bumblebee colonies are comprised of some 50 to 150 animals. Only the Earth Bumblebee may have richly populated nests in which we find 200 up to 600 individuals.

A few species of bumblebees are being bred nowadays to take care of pollination in greenhouses. They turn out to be very useful in growing tomatoes and cucumbers. One can buy colonies in specialized shops and on the internet. When flying most bumblebees are producing lots of noise, attracting our attention that way. They belong to the most beloved of all insects, for they are the perfect messengers announcing spring is on the way. Sometimes as soon as the end of February the first queens can be seen flying from spring flower to spring flower, even though they usually appear by the middle of March.

Bumblebees have typical warning colours: black and yellow or black and red. And it is true: all species are capable of stinging. But they are not very willing to do so. We can even take many species in our hand. As long as we don't squeeze them, they won't sting us at all! Only bumblebees laying on their back should never be touched, for this is their typical defense position, indicating they feel threatened and are ready to sting! Even though the stinger of the bumblebees is build the same way as the Honeybee's, their stinger will not remain in your skin. As a result a bumblebee may sting you more than once. The poison it injects is harmless, except for those allergic to wasp poison. Whether the sting is very painful or not depends on the species involved.

Nowadays all bumblebees are put into one single genus: Bombus. Sometimes a second genus is used (Psithyrus), comprised of all cuckoo bumblebees. In older days bumblebees were put in numerous genera. The length of the tongue was used as most frequent decisive factor. We will give you the previous name of each species as well.

Bumblebees are typical insects of moderate climate zones, with a few species even surviving arctic conditions. You won't find them in the tropics though. The hairs on the body ensure they don't cool off too soon. But there is more. Just like mammals bumblebees control their own body temperature. They can detach the muscles used to move their wings. And by moving the detached muscles rapidly they produce their own body heat. This is the reason you can sometimes find a motionless bumblebee on the ground or a flower. It is not dying or sick, but simply heating up its own body. But due to the fact that the wings are detached from their muscles it is not capable of flying at the time. Bumblebees keep a body temperature of 34 to 38 Centigrade. Only in winter, when temperatures are really dropping below zero, they can't keep up anymore and go into hibernation. This is the reason why many species don't care about cold or rainy weather conditions. Bumblebees can be active on sunny days, while the temperature is still one or two degrees below the freezing point. Honeybees for instance will become active only when temperatures are above some 15 degrees Centigrade!
​

 

[afsoon6282]

Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum

Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum

Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum

There are numerous bumblebee species flying around. And even though many of them have a specific combination of colours, identifying them is not as easy as it seems. Not only do some species look like oneanother, many are extremely variable as well. And queens, workers and males often differ in appearance, complicating matters even more. The Brown Bumblebee also known as Common Carder Bee, is among the easiest to identify. It is one of the smallest species showing a reddish brown tail. Furthermore the entire thorax is covered in brownish yellow hairs, where most species show a band of black hairs as well. The male or drone, shown in the bottom picture, often looks very differently, usually fully covered in whitish hairs.

The Brown Bumblebee is one of the most common bumblebees in Europe, including the British Isles. The size is quite variable. Queens may be up to 18 mm long, reachinh a wingspan of some 32 mm. Workers and drones usually have about the same size: some 12 to 15 mm. In spring however, the first workers may be quite small, sometimes even less than 1 centimeter. The Common Carder Bee has adapted himself to human presence. It does live in woodlands, but prefers parks (even those in big cities), gardens and verges of roads etc. A nest is comprised of some 80 to 100 animals, even though sometimes up to 150 specimens may live in one nest. The Brown Bumblebee is among the friendliest of all bumblebees. As long as you don't put your hand in the nest or squeeze an individual animal, you can even pick it up: it rarely ever stings. It is an opportunist when it comes to places used for nesting. Often an old mousenest will be used, or it builds a nest by itself, usually above the ground. But nests are also found in old bird's nests, nesting boxes, attics or stables.

The Common Carder Bee belongs to a group of bumblebees in possession of a rather long tongue. This group was formerly known as Megabombus pascuorum, for all long-tongued bumblebees were once placed in this genus. Having a long tongue has its advantages of course, because you can reach deeper inside flowers which are bell shaped, like various species of heather. The short tongued bumblebees don't have a problem there either: they simply bite through the flower near the source of the nectar. The queen appears quite early, somewhere around the beginning of April, but never as early as the queens of the Earth Bumblebee or Early Bumblebee. The latter may even appear on mild days in February. Once the queen of the Brown Bumblebee found a good nesting spot, she starts the construction of the nest and collecting the first food storage for the larvae: nectar and pollen. During this initial period she has to keep a good eye on the nest, for else she might find it occupied returning from a flight. Especially the queen of the Shrill Carder Bee is known to take possession of nests under construction. As the Common Carder Bee is not very choosy when it comes to nesting places, she usually finds another spot rather soon.

​

 

[afsoon6282]

Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum

Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum

Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum

Another smaller species seen in gardens frequently is the Early Bumblebee. The queen, reaching a length of some 17 mm and having a wingspan of up to 32 mm. is about the same size as the Common Carder Bee's. The workers and the males are just a tiny bit smaller than those of the Common Carder Bee. The front part of the thorax is covered with yellow hairs, even though the thorax may be covered with yellow hairs entirely, especially in males. The hairs however are always brightly yellow and do not tend to be brown as in the case of the Common Carder Bee. Often the first part of the abdomen is yellow as well, but the yellow hairs may be absent here. The tail is strikingly orange. In older specimens the colouring may be less striking as the hairs tend to become dirty white, as in many other species. At times it is an awkward job to identify worn out animals! Due to its small size and colouring the Early Bumblebee often is easily identifiable. And even more so because there are not many look-a-likes around. In the Alps however several mountain species do look like the Early Bumblebee, so be careful once over there. The species is very common all over Europe. The tongue is shorter than the Brown Carder Bee's and therefore the animal used to be called Pyrobombus pratorum scientifically.

Despite the name the Early Bumblebee is not the species seen most early. The much bigger Earth Bumblebee sometimes flies by the end of February, while most Early Bumblebees start looking for a good place to nest in the middle of March. A nest may contain any number, usually from 50 to some 120 individuals. Like the common Carder Bee the Early Bumblebee is not very choosy when it comes to nesting spots: old and abondoned mice nests will do, but so will heaps of dead grass, old bird nests, stables and even nesting boxes. When it comes to flowers this is your universal pollinator: well over 140 flowers are being visited, quite randomly, including many exotic garden flowers. The species can be found almost everywhere: meadows, gardens, parks and the deges of forests, though it will never nest deep inside woodlands. This is a very common species all over the British Isles.

The animal in the bottom picture is a drone (male).

​

 

[afsoon6282]

Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum

Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum

Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum

More striking than the previous species is the Garden Bumblebee. This is a big species. Take the queen for instance. She can be up to 22 mm long, reaching a wingspan of some 4 cm! Workers and drones usually range from 13 to 16 mm, reaching a wingspan of some 3 cm. The animal looks a lot like the Earth Bumblebees, but it always has a white tail and two yellow bands on the thorax: one on the frond and another one on the rear. Some bumblebees fly in February, weather conditions allowing, the Garden Bumblebee takes it time. The first specimens are usually not seen before mid-March. But in our region this is one of the very few bumblebees capable of producing a second generation regularly. That's why it can often be seen until the first part of October. The Three-banded White Tail Bumblebee feels at home near humans. It is ready to nest almost everywhere. The nest can be somewhere in the earth, for instance in old mice nests, but nesting opportunities high above, such as old birds nests, nesting boxes, attics etc. will also be gladly accepted. Even though the animal will visit an enormous variety of flowers it is known to be fond of thistle and clover. There are only a few species of bumblebees being able to reach the clover's nectar, for this is produced deep inside the flower. Some other species, including the Common Carder Bee, being short-tongued, can not reach the goodies. They use other and more drastic measure to get what they want: they'll bite a hole in the flower near the nectar source. For a long time people appreciated the Long-tongued Bumblebee being the best pollinator around for beans. In the past it was scientifically known as Megabombus hortorum, because of the long tongue. The nests typically contain some 50 to 120 individuals. This species is very common all over Europe, including all of the British Isles.

In the top picture is a drone, the male Garden Bumblebee. In the middle picture is a queen. The bottom picture is an animal looking like the Garden Bumblebee. It is not a bumblebee though, but a hoverfly: Volucella bombylans plumata. Flies can not sting and have little means of defending themselves. That is why many species imitate dangerous insects, capable of stinging, such as wasps and bees.

The Garden Bumblebee is also known as the Long-tongued Bumblebee and the Three-banded White-tail Bumblebee.

​

 

[afsoon6282]

Earth Bumblebee Bombus terrestris

Earth Bumblebee Bombus terrestris

Earth Bumblebee Bombus terrestris

The Earth Bumblebee often shows a lot of variation in colouring. In Britain this species has an orange brownish tail, but on the continent the tail is white. In Britain this species is often referred to as the Buff-tailed Bumblebee. As we live in Holland and have white-tailed species only, we will only refer to this species being the Earth Bumblebee. For the same reason we can not show you any pictures of a British specimen. In many gardens this is the biggest species. The queen is always over 2 centimeters long, reaching a wingspan of up to 43 mm. The workers and drones are of a more common bumblebee size: 14 to 17mm in length and the wingspan usually varies between 30 and 35mm. In early spring however the first workers appearing may be a lot smaller. In Britain it is very easy to tell the difference between the Earth Bumblebee and a few of its relatives such as the White-tailed Bumblebee, but once you are on the continent you will have a hard time doing the same thing. The animals in the pictures on this page could very well be Earth Bumblebees, but could also be White-tailed Bumblebees (Bombus lucorum) or even Bombus cryptarum, a non-British species. According to specialists the difference is in the colour of the yellow bands: brownish yellow in the Earth Bumblebee, lemon yellow in the White-tailed Bumblebee and golden yellow in Bombus cryptarum. As one rarely ever sees all species together these descriptions are rather meaningless. An additional problem is that the Earth Bumblebee itself often is quite variable. This means we can not guarantee that all animals depicted below actually are Earth Bumblebees. But we think all of them are.

Not only is the Earth Bumblebee the biggest species to appear in common gardens, it is also one of the earliest. In mild winters the first can be seen flying about in February. And once flying, they keep on doing so for a very long time, sometimes until mid-October. Compared to most other bumblebees their states are very big indeed. In Western Europe a 100 animals occupying one nest may be considered the minimum. But bigger nests may consist of no less than 600 animals. In Southern Europe nests containing over a 1,000 individuals have been found. As you can conclude from its name the Earth Bumblebee constructs its nest in the earth. Usually an empty mouse nest is used. The animals may even enlarge the nest should it be too small to house the entire colony. Every now and then a nest is build above the surface, for instance in an old birds nest or a hay stack. Pirating is quite common in this species, meaning that a queen may locate another queen which already has quite a nest and try to take over. This may lead to bloody fights, often resulting in de death of one of the queens. The Earth Bumblebee is quite capable of adjusting itself to human presence. Various garden plants, even more exotic species, are highly appreciated. In agriculture this is the most popular of all species, being bred at a large scale. It is used in greenhouses to pollinate cucumbers, tomatoes and strawberries. It is also an excellent species for breeding pepper, even though it has to be given additional food, for peppers do not produce any nectar.

The animal in the 3rd picture from the top probably is a worker. The animal in the bottom picture is a drone. All others are likely to be queens.

​

 

[afsoon6282]

White-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lucorum

White-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lucorum

White-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lucorum

The White-tailed Bumblebee looks like the Earth Bumblebee a lot. At times the two species are very hard to tell apart. It is smaller than the Earth Bumblebee, but that is only visible studying both of them at the same time. Besides, the two species are variable in size. Especially the first workers may be very small indeed. The queen is some 20 mm long and reaches a wingspan of 35 to 40 mm. Most variable are the workers. The length may be anything from 9 up to 16 mm, giving them a wingspan of 20 to 33 mm. The males are less variable and hardly any smaller than those of the Earth Bumblebee. At first sight the White-tailed Bumblebee is identical to the Earth Bumblebee: a black hairy bee, having one yellow band on the thorax, just behind the head, one yellow band on the abdomen and a white tail. The yellow however is described as citrine in the White-tailed Bumblebee and as brownish yellow in the Earth Bumblebee. However in older animals of both species the yellow may fade to greyish or whitish. The males have much more yellow hairs all over and have a bushy appearance, as if they desperately need a haircut. The White-tailed Bumblebee is an early species, usually flying about from mid-March, but sometimes the first will appear in February. The nest is made underground, normally in an abandoned nest of a mouse. Colonies are much smaller than those of the Earth Bumblebee and contain some 100 to 300 animals; by exception they may grow up to 400 animals. In August the colony collapses and young queens will search for a suitable place to overwinter. The White-tailed Bumblebee is a true opportunist and is always ready to live near humans. In spring it frequents fruit trees. In summer many cultivated garden flowers will be readily visited. It is a very common species all over the British Isles and can be found not only in gardens and parks, but in the country side, forests and even mountains as well. In the Alps it has been found at altitudes well over 2,000 metres.

The animals in the two top pictures are probably both workers. The animals in the two bottom pictures are drones (males).

​

 

[afsoon6282]

Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius

Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius

Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius

The Red-tailed Bumblebee is a common visitor in many gardens. In our garden however it is very rare. The first one wasn't seen until August 2002. This is a big species (about the same size as the Earth Bumblebee and the Garden Bumblebee). In the vicinity of the nest the Red-tailed Bumblebee is more agressive than most other species of bumblebee and it is quite happy to sting any intruder. This species is entirely black, except for the red tail. It is not easily mixed up with other species, for the few look-a-likes around are quite rare, especially in common gardens and smaller usually. The queen does have a small whitish yellow band on the front end of the thorax at times. Males, workers and queens do not differ much from one another, which is rather unbique among bumblebees. Scientifically this bumblebee used to be called Pyrobombus lapidarius.

The Red-tailed Bumblebee makes its appearance quite late, usually in April. In unusually warm springs it may have appeared a bit earlier: by the second half of March. The colony remains rather small and rarely ever contains over 300 individuals. Normally the nest is made underground in some old micenest, but occasionally nests are found in openings in walls, birds nests or nesting boxes. This too is a common species all over Europe, including the British Isles. The animal easily adepts itself to man made changes in the natural environment. It will adopt even small beds of flowers in the middle of big cities and welcomes parks, gardens, and the fringes of woodlands, even though it will never live within forests. The Red-tailed Bumblebee visits well over 200 species of flowers, including many exotic garden species. Yet, it is not used in agriculture because of its unpleasant character and eagerness to sting.

The Red-tailed Bumblebee is also known as Stone Bumblebee or Large Red Bumblebee. Scientifically it was known as Pyrobombus lapidarius in the past.

​

 

[afsoon6282]

Red-shanked Carder Bee Bombus ruderarius

Red-shanked Carder Bee Bombus ruderarius

Red-shanked Carder Bee Bombus ruderarius

This bumblebee is most probably the Red-shanked Carder Bee. We are not completely sure though, for this is not the easiest bumblebee species to identify. The problem is that the colouring is variable and quickly faints in older animals. Normally the entire bee is black, except for the tail, which is a dirty kind of red. So it sometimes does look like the Red-tailed Bumblebee, but the tail hairs are never bright and the animal is much smaller. Variations however may show yellow bands on the thorax. These are of a very indistinct white yellow colour and often make the animal look like many other species, especially the worn-out individuals. The queen is only 16 to 18 mm long, reaching a wingspan of some 32 mm. The workers and the drones are a bit smaller. Thus the species is about the same size as the well-known Common Carder Bee. States of the Red-shanked Carder Bee are rather small. Most contain 50 or up to 100 individuals. Queens are late starters. Even though sometimes seen in the second half of April, most become active in May. The species makes its own nest, usually above the earth's surface in old patches of dead grass or mosses. Not to be found in mountain areas as it prefers flat territories. We are not sure about the status of this species in Britain, but we found on the web that it is a common species in the south of England and a rather rare species in Western Scotland.

​

 

[afsoon6282]

Large Yellow Bumblebee Bombus distinguendus

Large Yellow Bumblebee Bombus distinguendus

Large Yellow Bumblebee Bombus distinguendus

The Large Yellow Bumblebee below shows little black. It does look yellow all over, even though it may appear more brownish at times. Only the centrepart of the thorax has black hairs (or no hairs at all). This is a very variable species in size. Some workers will only reach a length of some 11 mm, especially the very first ones. But the queens may reach a length of 22 mm. Their wingspan can then reach some 42 mm making them almost as big as the Earth Bumblebee. The Large Yellow Bumblebee builds its nest underground (in old micenests preferably) or above the ground in beautifully selfmade nests in shrubs or trees. The species starts flying late in the season and is rarely seen before mid-May. Chances of meeting this remarkable species in your garden are extremely small, for this species is known to be extremely rare in Britain, Holland, Belgium and Germany. So having it flying about in our garden was an enormous thrill indeed! It is known being one of the most beautiful bumblebees around. This species is also known as Megabombus distinguendus.

There is much ado about the identification of the species shown in the pictures on this page. Some claim it is not a Large Yellow Bumblebee, but the male of the Field Cuckoo Bee. Others confirm this is a Large Yellow Bumblebee. According to the German book 'Bumblebees' by Eberhard von Hagen and Ambros Aichhorn the Field Cuckoo Bee is not unlike the Large Yellow Bumblebee, but it only has the last tergites yellow, whereas the Large Yellow Cuckoo Bee has all tergites yellow. So far three experts claim this is a Field Cuckoo Bee and three others claim this is the Large Yellow Bumblebee. One of the last mentioned experts is a pupil of Aichhorn's. Because of this we still feel safe enough to put this animal here being a Large Yellow Bumblebee, but keep in mind it might be another species.

​

 

[afsoon6282]

Vestal Cuckoo Bumblebee Bombus vestalis

Vestal Cuckoo Bumblebee Bombus vestalis

Vestal Cuckoo Bumblebee Bombus vestalis

As stated before it may be very difficult at times to tell the various bumblebees apart. And the Cuckoo Bumblebees even add extra complications. These are bumblebees that do not make their own nest. The females seek entrance to another bumblebee's nest and simply deposit their eggs, leaving it to the host to bring up the larvae. Various species of cuckoo bumblebees are in existence and quite often they are the spitting image of their hosts! They are also known as parasitic bumblebees. The Vestal Cuckoo Bumblebee below is a parasite to the Earth Bumblebee, to which it bears a remarkable resemblance. Cuckoo bumblebees do not know workers or queens, just females, all capable of laying eggs and uncapable of doing any work. The females of the Vestal Cuckoo Bumblebee are about the same size as the queens of the Earth Bumblebee. Males usually are 15 to 17 mm long and may reach a wingspan of 35 mm. Because they never care about their off spring the females of all cuckoo bumblebees lack the special pollencollecting hairs on their legs. All non-parasitic bumblebees have these 'baskets' as these bushes of hairs are called and use them to transport pollen to the nest. So cuckoo bumblebees not only cheat on their relatives, they fool plants as well. Lacking the baskets they are not very contributive in the pollination proces. The Vestal Cuckoo Bumblebee is not very common in gardens, even though it may be seen in greater numbers in some years, while being absent in others.

The scientific name Psithyrus vestalis is commonly used for this species.

​

 

[afsoon6282]

Four-coloured Cuckoo Bee Bombus sylvestris

Four-coloured Cuckoo Bee Bombus sylvestris

Four-coloured Cuckoo Bee Bombus sylvestris

This is a more common cuckoo bee, seen regularly all over Europe, including the British Isles. It is not a big species and a parasite to the Early Bumblebee mainly, to which it bears a good resemblance. But it is known using other hosts as well, especially the Common Carder Bee. In the pictures on this page you see a drone. Both females and males reach a length of approximately 15 mm. Strangely enough the females have a bigger wingspan: males reach 30 mm., females 35 mm. There's evidence females find the nest of their host by scent. Once inside their host's nest they often sit still for hours on end, picking up the scent of the nest before depositing the eggs. Once accepted by the host she'll leave the nest to feed, returning frequently to deposit even more eggs.

This species is also known by its former scientific names Psithyrus sylvestris and Fernaldaepsithyrus sylvestris.

​

 

[afsoon6282]

Various Wasps

Various Wasps

Various Wasps

In this chapter we deal with wasps not dealt with in the previous pages. Some belong to rather small families, represented by few species only. There is one exception though: the parasitic wasps. They make an enormous group, represented by well over 1,500 species in Holland. Parasitic Wasps are among the most difficult to identify. Almost each and every species has one or more very similar clones. Of the many species photographed in our garden, only very few have been identified. And in many cases the identification could still be wrong! Below we will inform you of the family or group the depicted animal belongs to.​

 

[afsoon6282]

Common Cuckoo Wasp Chrysis ignata

Common Cuckoo Wasp Chrysis ignata

Common Cuckoo Wasp Chrysis ignata

The insect below is a cuckoo wasp. They are parasites just like the cuckoo bumble bees, only worse. Instead of being fed by their host like the cuckoo bumble bees, they feed on the larvae of their host... In the part of Europe we live there are over fourty species of cuckoo wasps and all have beautiful metallic colours. Most species specialize on a cerain host, but the Common Cuckoo Wasp (also known as the Rubytail) is not very specific: it uses all kinds of bees and wasps to let the larvae feed on.

​

 

[afsoon6282]

Spider Wasp Auplopus carbonarius

Spider Wasp Auplopus carbonarius

Common Spider Wasp Auplopus carbonarius

Some wasps are able to sting people painfully, but there are more wasps that have a rather unpleasant character. There are lots of wasps that lay their eggs in other animals, which are then completely eaten by the larva of the wasp. Some wasps simply deposit there eggs on other insects, but some are ready to go to all lengths, such as the spider wasps. For their larva they seek a much bigger victim, e.g. a spider larger than they are themselves. They sting the spider, which deadens the animal. They then take it to the nest, put the spider in and deposit an egg in or near the spider and seal the nest. Because the spider is just deadened, not killed, the larva has a fresh meal when it hatches. On this page you see the Common Spider Wasp going about with a deadened victim. In order to make transportation of the victim easier, this Common Spider Wasp often bites off a few or all of the victims legs. So it is a good thing the wasp uses some kind of anaesthetic!

​

 

[afsoon6282]

Spider Hunting Wasp Arachnospila species

Spider Hunting Wasp Arachnospila species

Spider Hunting Wasp Arachnospila species

The Spider Hunting Wasp below is typical for most of the Spider Hunting Wasps in the Benelux: it is black with red parts on the abdomen. The specimen below was hard to photograph, for it didn't sit still for a moment. It is a member of the Arachnospila genus. It would have been possible to name even the species if we would know what spiders it was hunting for. But even though we watched it for a while, we never saw its prey.

​

 

[afsoon6282]

Sand Digger Wasp Ammophila sabulosa

Sand Digger Wasp Ammophila sabulosa

Sand Digger Wasp Ammophila sabulosa

Digger Wasps are not closely related to the Spider Wasps, but behave accordingly. They are not very specialized and use all kinds of animals, mainly the larvae of insects , such as butterflies, moths, locusts and flies, but adults and spiders as well. These are paralyzed and then transported to the nest, often a self digged hole in the ground. Some of the better known Digger Wasps have a very characteristic body, and are therefor immediately identified as wasps. In our garden we see the large Sand Digger Wasp regularly. For the larvae may be meat eaters, the adult Sand Digger Wasps feed on pollen! This is a large species, that can be well over two centimeters in length. In the pictures a male feeding.

​

 

[afsoon6282]

Pemphredon species

Pemphredon species

Pemphredon sp.

Pemphredon species are closely related to the Ammophila species. However they are much smaller, some measuring no more than 0.2 centimeters. Their body is also much shorter, for they lack the prolonged waist common in the Sand Digger Wasps. Their larvae feed on cicadas, plant lice or even thrips, which mother hides in existing openings in wood, twigs or reet, rather than digging one in the ground. There are some 800 species world wide.

​

 

[afsoon6282]

Cerceris arenaria

Cerceris arenaria

Sand Tailed Digger Wasp Cerceris arenaria

The Sand Tailed Digger Wasp is the biggest Cerceris species in Britain. There is remarkable little difference in size between males and females, for males reach a length of 9 to 15mm, females grow to a length of 11 to 16mm. Females can be identified by looking at their bottom, which is broader in this species than in other Cerceris species. And using a magnifying glass one may even be able to identify the males. They have a few very long hairs on the last segment of the antenna. Besides they are often bigger than the males of other Cerceris species. Still telling the males of Cerceris species apart is a very tricky thing!

The Sand Tailed Digger Wasp will begin flying about in May. It prefers dry, firm, sandy soils. The female will dig a tunnel, some 40cm deep. To the sides she'll construct a few cells. Each cell is provided with some 5 to 12 paralyzed animals of prey for the larvae: weevils usually, but leaf beetles are hunted for as well. Sand Tailed Digger Wasps may settle in colonies of well over 100 animals per square meter, but strictly solitary nests are found as frequently. This species is often found in villages and even big city centres, where is builds nests between tiles and using terraces.

A common species over much of Britain, except for the far north. A very common species on the continent as well. Probably because it is that common, it has quite some parasitic 'friends'. Among those are two species of Cuckoo Wasps, various species of Flesh Flies, some cleptoparasitic Metopia flies and even some species of Root-maggot Flies.

​

 

[afsoon6282]

Cerceris quadricincta

Cerceris quadricincta

Cerceris quadricincta

The Digger Wasps in the genus Cerceris are very similar to paper wasps. When you see and approach them, without them noticing your activities, they sit still looking like a Sawfly. However as soon as they are aware of your presence, they will open up their wings a bit. A that moment they do look like a small and slender yellowjacket, as this position clearly reveals the warning colours. However the German expert Heiko Bellmann writes that by spreading its wings the animal can take off more easily. Most Cerceris species hunt for weevils to feed to their larvae. Thus they are often refered to as Weevil Hunting Wasps. Some species hunt for other prey though, usually bees. Of most species the females may be identified in the field, even though a few may present you with some difficulties. Males of most species are too similar to be identified in the field. In all pictures but the bottom one females are depicted.

Cerceris quadricincta is a black with yellow wasp. Especially the first yellow line on the abdomen often is quite broad. Females have a very pointed and slender bottom and are entirely yellow on the underside. The males are very similar to those of other Cerceris species, especially of Cerceris arenaria. Usually they can not be identified in the field. Males reach a length of 6 to 10mm, females are 7 to 11mm long.

The nests are being made in firm sandy soil. They are hard to find, for they are often hidden amongst vegetation. Each egg is provided with 5 to 15 weevils, usually the bigger Polydrosus species or the very small Apion species. Adults often visit flowers, including those in gardens. Extremely rare in Britain and only found in two counties in England. Quite common on the continent, but not in Scandinavia. Also present in much of Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is on the wing from May to the end of October.

​

 

[afsoon6282]

Bee Wolf Philanthus triangulum

Bee Wolf Philanthus triangulum

Bee Wolf Philanthus triangulum

The Bee Wolf is among the very few Digger Wasps having a well known common English name. It is a rather big, slender Digger Wasp. The basic colour is black, but there are extensive, but variable yellow markings. Usually the face is all yellow. The head of the females is bigger, broader and stronger than the male's. Males are smaller too, reaching a length of some 8 to 15mm. Females may be 12 to 17mm long.

The nests of the Bee Wolf are remarkable. The entrance is slightly downwards, but soon runs horizontally for some 100cm, untill it turns sharply and ends in three to over thirty cells. The prey for the larvae exists of Honey Bees, of which three to six animals are stored per cell. Every now and then another species is gathered, always solitary bees. The prey is usually attacked from the air while eating nectar or pollen from a flower. The Bee Wolf often lives in smaller or bigger colonies, but there is always a certain distance between the entrances. It has been discovered recently that a gland near the antenna produces a signalling substance. The mother Bee Wolf uses this to mark the spot where her off spring should start digging to get out of the cell. The Bee Wolf enjoys the company of many parasites, such as the Cuckoo Wasp Hedychrum rutilans, some Flesh Flies and the curiously shaped Blow Flies of the genus Conops. Metopia-flies operate as kleptoparasites.

The Bee Wolf used to be a very rare species, found in a few locations in the most southern part of England only. Nowadays it is a well spread, common species over much of Southern England and still expanding its territory. It is on the wing from June to early October. This species may be found in villages and even big cities, digging in sand, hunting or eating pollen.

​

 

[afsoon6282]

Ectemnius continuus

Ectemnius continuus

Ectemnius continuus

There seems to be no common name for the genus Ectemnius, al least not in English. All British members are simply referred to as Solitary Wasps. All Ectemnius species are rather big wasps in the familiar colours of black and yellow. Belonging to the Digger Wasps, they do not dig in sand, but in soft wood instead. Most species live in the moderate climate zone and in Europe some 25 species have been seen. In Britain 10 species have been recorded. Of all species Ectemnius continuus is the most common one, found all over Europe, including much of Scandinavia. Females are hard to identify, for they are very similar to other species. Males can be identified by the long thorns on the tarsus of the middle foot. Males grow to a length of 8 to 12mm, females are a bit longer: 10 to 15mm.

Ectemnius continuus is on the wing from May to the end of September. The female makes a nest in dead wood. She will use a stem, a dead tree, a fallen tree or even a dead twig. She digs a central tunnel, which ends in some cells, sometimes as many as ten. Each cell will contain one egg and six to eight immobilised prey, all flies. Ectemnius continuus hunts for almost all bigger flies and will happily attack House Flies, Flesh Flies, Hover Flies, Dagger Flies etc.

Ectemnius continuus is a very common species all over England and Wales. Northwards getting scarcer, like in Scotland. Is also known to make nests in fences and does inhabit villages and cities as well.

​

 

[afsoon6282]

Crabro scutellatus

Crabro scutellatus

Crabro scutellatus

Crabro scutellatus below is a digger wasp with an outstanding feature: it has a swollen front leg, or at least the males have. What the purpose of these swellings is, is virtually unknown, but it is believed they play some role in love making. All species of the genus Crabro have these swellings and they differ in each species. In Holland there are three species, the males of which can be told apart after some study, often even in the field. Crabro scutellatus for instance has no or almost no yellow markings on its thorax. The other two species do. Females are extremely hard to tell apart from other female Digger Wasps. All species are fond of warm, sandy soils. They dig deep into the sand and provide the young with insects. In the case of this species usually Long-legged flies (family Dolichopodidae) are used.

Crabro scutellatus is a common species in the Southern half of England only. It is on the wing from June to the end of September.

​

 

[afsoon6282]

Aoplus personatus

Aoplus personatus

Aoplus personatus

There are many species of parasitic wasps. So many that we don't have the faintest idea about the exact number. Anyway, in Holland alone there are some 1,500 species. Parasitic wasps can be divided into two main groups. Gall Wasps, vegetarians laying their eggs in plants or leaves, causing among others the famous oak apples. And we have meateaters depositing their eggs in living animals, insect larvae mainly. Some of these wasps are quite big and striking, like the one on this page. It is even bigger than an ordinary wasp. But most parasitic wasps are much, much smaller. As we said before there are many extremely small parasitic wasps. That is because many of them are parasites on other parasitic wasp larvae. Those we call superparasites. And believe it or not there are other, even smaller species that are parasitic to superparasites! Those we call hyperparasites.

The species on this page has been identified by Kees Zwakhals, who is pretty sure, but too much of a scientist to be convinced, for we haven't caught the animal. Aoplus personatus is parasitic to caterpillars and seems to concentrate on the larvae of various whites. In the pictures it seems to be fighting with a spider, probably a House Spider (Amaurobius similis). In fact the two animals seemed to be interested in one another for a short time only.

​

 

[afsoon6282]

ephialtes sp

ephialtes sp

ephialtes species

On this page another big Ichneumon Wasps. This wasp can be over 3.5 centimeters long. The ovipositor is very long too and powerful. It is believed this probably is a member of the ephialtes genus. The ephialtes species deposit their eggs in the larvae of various Mason Bees. The ephialtes wasps track them down and use the long ovipositor as a drill and then lay an egg inside the larva.

In the two top pictures one of the biggest parasitic wasps to be found in Holland and Belgium. From the pictures we could measure it quite accurately and it turned out to be well over 7 centimetres, including the ovipositor. This ovipositor by the way is by itself responsible for more than half of the total length. When drilling, the actual ovipositor is taken out of its cover and placed between the legs to drill into wood. The cover is proudly held in an upright position. The black line between the legs is the actual ovipositor.

​

 

[afsoon6282]

Diplazon spec.

Diplazon spec.

Diplazon species

One of the most common parasitic wasps in Europe is Diplazon laetatorius. The eggs are laid in the pupae of various hover flies, especially species belonging to the Tenax-group (Drone Flies). Even though it is very common, it is not often seen by people. When you do spot it, look at it carefully, because it is a beautiful animal indeed! The animal depicted here is likely to be a Diplazon species, but probably not Diplazon laetatorius.

​

 

[afsoon6282]

Gasteruption jaculator

Gasteruption jaculator

Gasteruption jaculator

Some species are easily identifyable, such as the weird Gasteruption jaculator. With most insects the tail is attached to the thorax at the bottom. With this species it is fixed to the top and then worn in an upright position. And if that isn't bizarre enough the ovipositor sticks out in a straight line and is white-dotted. Gasteruption jaculator is small, but because of all the protuberances it looks like something much bigger! It belongs to a family called Gasteruptionidae. The behavior is that of any other Parasitic Wasp.

​

 

[afsoon6282]

Wasps Vespidae

Wasps Vespidae

Wasps Vespidae

The best known wasps belong to this family, also known as True Wasps. All British species fold their wings when not flying. This means the wing is folded in the length. This way they look much more narrow and often darker. All wasps are black with yellow (sometimes whitish) or reddish brown markings. On the abdomen the markings usually are represented by one or more lines running from side to side. True Wasps also have remarkable eyes. They are kidney-shaped and rather big. This family is divided into two subfamilies represented in Britain:

1 Social Wasps, also known as Paper Wasps
2 Mason Wasps, also known as Potter Wasps
​

 

[afsoon6282]

Social Wasps Vespinae

Social Wasps Vespinae

Social Wasps Vespinae

The Social Wasps are also known as Paper Wasps, because they construct their nest out of a kind of paper they produce themselves by chewing on wood. For Britain this works fine, but in most of the world there is a second subfamily living socially, the so-called Field Wasps (Polistinae). And the members of this family also produce paper to construct the nest. And to add to the confusion: Americans have yet another definition of Paper Wasp. All Social Wasps build nests in which a few hundred up to many thousands animals live together. Such a colony is founded by a single queen in spring. She makes a little nest and lays a few eggs. When those hatch, she has to get food for the larvae. But after pupation the young take over these tasks: they hunt and keep on constructing the nest. The queen is only there to lay eggs. All these kids are unfertile females, which we call workers. Once the nest is full grown some eggs get extra attention and food. The wasps coming out of these cells are bigger and maybe male or female. These females are fertile and thus new queens. After mating the drones, as the males are referred to, die soon. The new queens fly off to find a place to overwinter. The colony now falls apart and workers fly about aimlessly and also die rather soon. The terrible wasps visiting us in autumn and stealing our lemonade and ice cream are social wasps as well. Actually only two species pester us: the Common Wasp and the German Wasp. But because all wasps are very similar indeed, most are killed on sight. However very few species do sting readily. The others are aggressive only in the vicinity of the nest
​

 

[afsoon6282]

Genera of Social Wasps

Genera of Social Wasps

Genera of Social Wasps

The Social Wasps in Britain belong to either one of three genera. The first, Vespa, doesn't give us any problem. It has one species only: the Hornet. This species is unmistakable because of size and the red markings on head and thorax. The other wasps are either Long-headed Wasps or Short-headed Wasps. One could write a lot about the differences between the two groups, but the picture to the left actually tells all. The Dolichovespula-species have very long cheeks, while the Vespula-species have very short cheeks. That is why their face is small and round. Dolichovespula-species hardly ever sting. The commonly stinging species, the German Wasp and the Common Wasp both are short-headed.

​

 

[afsoon6282]

Hornet Vespa crabro

Hornet Vespa crabro

Hornet Vespa crabro

The Hornet is our biggest Yellow Jacket. It is an impressive wasp, mainly black with yellow stripes. But the stripes on head and thorax are reddish brown mainly. The first part of the abdomen may also be partly reddish brown. The Red Wasp often has a partly reddish abdomen as well, but it is much smaller and the stripes on thorax and head are always yellow, never brownish. The Median Wasp has reddish stripes on the thorax, but the markings on head and abdomen are always yellow. Besides, it too is much smaller. And what's more: the Median Wasp always gives the impression being darker than the other Yellow Jackets. One other feature makes the Hornet stand apart from its smaller nephews: the head and abdomen are rather plump. Workers grow to a bodily length of 18 to 25mm. Males are slightly bigger: 21 to 28mm. Queens however are very telling, for they reach a length of 25 to 36mm!

In April and the beginning of May many people encounter a queen, looking for a good spot to build a nest. Usually the nest is made in a confined space like a hollow tree or a nesting box. Sometimes the nest is constructed underground. Rarely it is hung in a tree or shrub openly. The nest may be some 60cm. high and is of an ochreous or light brown colour. On the outside are a number of clam-shaped air chambers. The nest contains 4 up to 12 combs. At the peak of its development the nest contains some 1,700 animals, including eggs, larvae and pupae. The development of a hornet takes quite some time and the first males and new queens do not appear before the end of August. Of all Paper Wasps the Hornet is the only species to hunt by night as well as by day. While hunting at night they are regularly attracted to prey flying about a lamp. This usually causes great turmoil on the side of the lamp owner. The sting of the Hornet is quite painful, but the species is not aggressive at all. Nests in confined species may be approached at a distance of some 1 metre, without raising the anger of the Hornets. Nests hanging freely in a tree of shrub should be approached with more caution though. Keep a distance of some 5 metres and nothing will happen to you. Anyway, never stand in the approaching lane of the animals, for they don't tolerate this (and this goes for all wasps and bees). But even then a Hornet will not sting you quickly. Usually it starts hovering just in front of you. Just take a few steps aside (do not move forward or backwards) and suddenly the Hornet disappears, sure you are no longer in the approaching route to the nest. Hornets do like fallen and rotting fruit in autumn, but they will hardly ever bother us at a terrace. The animals are very important to us, for they kill lots of other insects. And because it is quite a formidable animal it is capable of attacking larger insects than most other wasps. The Hornet shows a remarkable phenomenon. The larvae produce a sweet milk, used to feed on by the adults. The adults like with all other wasps do not live on meat, but on nectar. The young eat the prey collected by the adults and secret a nectar like fluid themselves on which the parents feed.

The Hornet used to be not uncommon in England, but numbers declined dramatacilly in the 50's and 60's. However since 1990 numbers increase again and the Hornet is seen in southern parts of England up to the Midlands. It is still quite rare though.

​