The Bee-Wolf

Philanthus triangulum

9-18mm

July to September

This wasp is a specialist predator of the Honey Bee Apis mellifera. The large females can be observed around flowers of all kinds as they stalk and grab their victim, usually whilst the honey bee is feeding. Once caught, the female bee-wolf uses her sting to paralyse the honey bee and carry it off to her nesting burrow, usually dug in light sandy soil, sand dune or even in flat sand on a beach. Each female will make one burrow, which could have several internal chambers, but many females maybe nest close to each other and this is where they are usually spotted, along with the much smaller males. The females often appear larger in flight as they carry the prey slung under the body. 

Female specimen - collected whilst still clutching Apis mellifera worker. 

Two females, showing strong variation in yellow patterning. 

Both sexes have very large heads, with clearly visible ocelli and large compound eyes.  Abdominal patterns can vary, but generally the female has smaller black triangles on each segment of the gaster, with some specimens having completely yellow gasters. Both sexes have large pale yellow or cream areas on the face, and large jaws, especially in the female.

Specimens still in mating posture. Male is much smaller and shows the typical yellow facial markings.

Face of the female bee-wolf, and above, the large jaws and ocelli. 

Other readily identifiable characteristics include: 

- Antennae are stout and thickened towards the middle.

- Females often have red or orange pigmentation behind the eyes and on the forelegs.

- Forelegs of female have combs for shifting sand and soil.

- Bee-wolves can also be found taking nectar from flowers such as creeping thistle and bramble blossom.

Once rare in Britain, now fairly common in localised areas of south-east England, especially in coastal ranges but also found in forests, suburban and urban settings.

two males, showing typical darker form than females, although females can sometimes be very black.