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Bee Wolf

Philanthus triangulum

Classification

Class
Insecta

The European beewolf (Philanthus triangulum), also known as the bee-killer wasp or the bee-eating philanthus (from the now obsolete synonym Philanthus apivorus), is a solitary wasp that lives in the Western Palearctic and Afrotropics. Although the adults of the species are herbivores (feeding on nectar and pollen), the species derives its name from the behaviour of the inseminated females, who hunt Western honey bees. The female places several of its paralysed prey together with an egg in a small underground chamber, to serve as food for the wasp larvae.

Distribution

Dick Belgers · CC BY
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Countries in the Picchu catalog
Netherlands · 12,083Germany · 5,135United Kingdom · 1,045Spain · 621France · 258Italy · 81Belgium · 52Switzerland · 32Luxembourg · 7