Id for wasp or bee please.

[CloudedYellow]

I took this picture today in Notts thinking it was a solitary wasp but maybe it is a bee? It was longer and prob a bit thinner than V. vulgaris. Does anyone recognise it please?



Thanks

Richard

[eucera]

Originally Posted by CloudedYellow

I took this picture today in Notts thinking it was a solitary wasp but maybe it is a bee? It was longer and prob a bit thinner than V. vulgaris. Does anyone recognise it please?
Thanks

Richard

I certainly do!! These are pics of the crabronid wasp Philanthus triangulum, the so called Bee-Wolf. This species specialises in hunting honeybees with which to stock its brood cells.

If you hunt around the web you will find that this species is listed as a Red Data Book 2 species, a status it most certainly has not deserved for at least 15 years. It is now widespread and not uncommon over much of lowland England and Wales, and has been recorded as far north at the North York Noors and the Sefton coast of lancs. Unknown in Scotland or Ireland.

Could you please pm me with the "who, where and when" data so that I can enter this on to the national database?

Thanks, Stuart

[CloudedYellow]

Originally Posted by eucera

I certainly do!! These are pics of the crabronid wasp Philanthus triangulum, the so called Bee-Wolf. This species specialises in hunting honeybees with which to stock its brood cells.

Thanks, Stuart

Thank you Stuart. Will send a PM as requested.

Richard

[lauriek]

Hi,

Earlier today I found a similar insect to this. It looks very similar, initially I thought it was a (social) wasp, but on closer inspection I realised it was not. It has a similar mouth to the one posted, and in fact looks almost the same, except the underneath of the abdomen was black instead of yellow/black.

I've uploaded a couple of shots to the Gallery but they have not yet appeared...

Any tips on identification would be appreciated, I'm guessing its a different crabronid wasp...

[CloudedYellow]

Originally Posted by lauriek

Hi,


I've uploaded a couple of shots to the Gallery but they have not yet appeared...

If you upload them to the unidentified Gallery they will appear straight away together with a link enabling you to include the link in your message.

Richard

[lauriek]

A kind admin must have moved them for me! The images are here

[GRH]

This is an Ectemnius species, another type of solitary wasp.

Greg

[lauriek]

Thanks Greg, some googling shows this is correct! (Its easy when you have something specific to search for!)

Any tips on good id books for wasps?

[eucera]

Corbet & Yeo. Solitary Wasps. Richmond Press