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European Bee Wolf (Philanthus Triangulum) What a fascinating little wasp this is, with more of interest than can be encapsulated in a few short lines. Particularly at 1am when my fingers are making typing feel like mixing treacle.<br /> <br /> There&#039;s more information with this video, but if you don&#039;t know much about the Bee Wolf, I urge you to find out more.<br /> <br /> <section class="video"><iframe width="448" height="282" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/MQb2CyL5F-o?hd=1&autoplay=0&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></section> European beewolf,Geotagged,Philanthus triangulum,Summer,United Kingdom Click/tap to enlarge PromotedCountry intro

European Bee Wolf (Philanthus Triangulum)

What a fascinating little wasp this is, with more of interest than can be encapsulated in a few short lines. Particularly at 1am when my fingers are making typing feel like mixing treacle.

There's more information with this video, but if you don't know much about the Bee Wolf, I urge you to find out more.

    comments (15)

  1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
    Ferdy Christant
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    Nice! I have a photo of this one in my to-be-uploaded queue, and still had to investigate what it was, now I know.

    A not-so-fun fact you perhaps already know, but some reading along may not: after striking a bee and paralyzing it, this wasp turns the bee on its back and sits on top of its exposed belly, pushing it to eject whatever was in the stomach, then it feeds on the ejected nectar.     Posted 4 years ago, modified 4 years ago
    1. View Philip Booker's profile
      Philip Booker
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      I didn't know that!

      Sounds like an average Friday night with an old friend of mine in the 90's!       Posted 4 years ago
      1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
        Ferdy Christant
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        Good to know there's more of us out there. Posted 4 years ago
        1. View Patomarazul's profile
          Patomarazul
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          Oh, boy! who would tell that such a sweetie-looking bee can be such a beast! Posted 4 years ago, modified 4 years ago
          1. View Philip Booker's profile
            Philip Booker
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            It sure packs a punch! Posted 4 years ago
          2. View Ferdy Christant's profile
            Ferdy Christant
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            That was the good part, Marta. Next the bee is dragged to the wasp's nest where in a paralyzed state it is eating alive by the larvae of the wasp.

            Have a great weekend!             Posted 4 years ago
            1. View Patomarazul's profile
              Patomarazul
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              Oh, well..who am I, human, to point at these animals on how to find their food..as I am not a vegetarian myself I certainly cannot criticise them, as gruesome as it sounds :-)

              Great weekend to you both as well!               Posted 4 years ago, modified 4 years ago
              1. View Philip Booker's profile
                Philip Booker
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                Nature does, as nature will.

                Until we stick our paws in.                 Posted 4 years ago
            3. View Philip Booker's profile
              Philip Booker
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              And it gets cleverer.

              This is from memory so it might not be 100%

              With paralyzed but still living Honeybees lining the nest, any pathogens they may have brought in with them would be a threat to the Larva, so I believe the female coats the cocoon with a unique cocktail of anti-bacterial liquid or spray, which protects the larva from infection. I suspect this might be unique to the Wolf Bee?               Posted 4 years ago
              1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
                Ferdy Christant
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                Wow, did not know that and read a few articles by now. Seems credible and makes sense, even if unique. Posted 4 years ago
                1. View Philip Booker's profile
                  Philip Booker
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                  https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100228131339.htm Posted 4 years ago
                  1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
                    Ferdy Christant
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                    A symbiotic relation with bacteria...mind blown. Thanks for that article! Posted 4 years ago
                    1. View Philip Booker's profile
                      Philip Booker
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                      My pleasure Posted 4 years ago
  3. View Ferdy Christant's profile
    Ferdy Christant
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    Posted my observation as well :)

    European Beewolf, Loonse en Drunense Duinen,Netherlands Thankfully, the other day Philip Booker posted this...<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/101645/european_bee_wolf_philanthus_triangulum.html<br /> ...which neatly pre-identified this huge headed wasp that I saw late June. Some facts we've collected thus far:<br /> <br /> - it strikes bees from above, almost instantly paralyzing them<br /> - it sometimes turns them on their back, push on their stomach, and feed on the nectar ejected<br /> - it carries the bee to the nest, for the larvae to feed on whilst still alive<br /> - it applies antibiotics to its cocoons, based on a symbiotic relationship with particular bacteria<br /> <br /> And to add, a fun little nostalgia video (dutch):<br /> <br /> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFK1NaEaT9g<br /> First interesting thing is how powerful of a digger it is. Almost like a dog.<br /> <br /> Yet the main point of the video is to try and understand how the wasp navigates to her nest.<br /> <br /> First, the nest entrance is covered in sand, yet she immediately finds the entrance anyway. How?<br /> Second, new objects are placed around the nest, which she seems to notice when exiting the nest, as if memorizing them.<br /> Third, whilst she is away, the objects are displaced, and a fake entrance is made.<br /> <br /> She falls for it, which proves she uses beacons, the relative position of other objects, to find the nest. Which is of course common sense, but still remarkable how much tiny creatures can compute.<br /> <br /> Another display of strength, digging *whilst* carrying a bee:<br /> <br /> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyczZSo4CHw Europe,European beewolf,Loonse en Drunense Duinen,Netherlands,Philanthus triangulum,World
     Posted 4 years ago, modified 4 years ago
    1. View Philip Booker's profile
      Philip Booker
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      Excellent pic, plus that second video is awesome!
       Posted 4 years ago

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The European beewolf

"Philanthus triangulum", commonly known as the European beewolf or the bee-eating philanthus, is a solitary wasp that lives in Europe and Northern Africa.

Info 7 3
Similar species: Wasps, Bees, Sawflies And Ants
Species identified by Philip Booker
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By Philip Booker

All rights reserved
Uploaded Sep 17, 2020. Captured Sep 15, 2020 11:12 in Chailey Avenue, Rottingdean, Brighton BN2 7GE, UK.
country flag of United Kingdom Explore United Kingdom 3,303 1,262 0
  • DSC-RX10M4
  • f/4.0
  • 1/1000s
  • ISO250
  • 218.32mm
Captured in the summer. More summer photos.