Official name:
Synonyms:
Philanthus triangulum [1]
see more on: www.gbif.org
CONTENTS
1. Distribution
2. Behaviour
3. Plant relations
4. Prey relations
5. Parasitic relations
6. Identification
1. DISTRIBUTION
Philanthus triangulum is a common species in the Nederland [2,3].
Garden species
Since 2019 the wasp is present in the garden every year. At the end of the day males often appear to dig a sleeping place in the sand. Females are attracted to the garden by the presence of Honeybees (Apis melifera) in the garden. On one occasion a female started digging extensively but never finished the nest.
2. BEHAVIOUR
2.1. ACTIVITY
The species is active from end of May up to the beginning of October [1].
2.2. DEVELOPMENT
Nest
Nests are dug in sandy ground [6], sometimes in aggregations [6].
The nests can consist of 3 to 34 cells [3], 3 to 6 prey specimen are used per cell [3].
2.3. BEE HOTEL
The species does not make use of artificial nest help, not for nesting nor for sleeping.
2.4. HUNTING
The female hunts actively on Honey bees (Apis melifera).
Her hunting method follows a few steps:
- First she’ll fly a couple of times around the plant to observe the potential victims
- When she has found a victim she will drop down on her from flight
- In the following skirmish she’ll sting the victim to paralyse her
- After that she will hold the bee between her legs and jaws until it stops resiting.
In a personal observation I observed step 4 turned out to be difficult resulting in the prey to fall to the ground. These seemed to be accidents and not on purpose. After the prey had fallen to the ground she had no longer interest in it. After some days several paralysed or dead bees were lying under the plant where they were foraging and captured.
The venom of the species has a permanent paralysing effect on the bees [12].
3. PLANT RELATIONS
3.1. FOOD PLANTS
The following plant species are mentioned in literature as food sources:
| Apiaceae (Umbellifers) | Falcaria – Falcaria vulgaris (Sickelweed) [5] |
| Asteraceae (Composite family) | Cirisium (Plume thistles) [5] Tanacetum – Tanacetum vulgare (Tansy) [5] |
| Ericaceae | Calluna [5] |
| Lamiaceae | Thymus (Thyme) [5] |
| Onagraceae (Willowherb family) | Epilobium (Willowherbs) [5] |
| Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn family) | Rhamnus (Buckthorns) [9] |
| Rosaceae (Rose family) | Rubus (Blackberry) [5] |
Garden species
I’ve seen the species forage in the garden on the following plants:
| Asteraceae (Composite family) | Solidago (Goldenrod) [5] |
| Lamiaceae | Mentha – Mentha suaveolens (Apple mint) |
4. PREY RELATIONS
The larvae are fed with Honey bees (Apis melifera).
With high exception bees from other genera are used as well [3,7]:
- Andrena (Mining bees)
- Dasypoda
- Halictus (Sweat bees)
- Lasioglossum (Sweat bees)
- Megachile (Leafcutter bees)
5. PARASITIC RELATIONS
The following species and groups occurring in the Netherlands [1] are mentioned in literature:
| Chrysididae (Cuckoo wasps) | Chrysis – Chrysis ignita [7] – Heydychrum gerstaeckeri [5,7] – Heydychrum rutilans [5,7] Pseudomalus – Pseudomalus auratus [7] |
Diptera (Flies) | Conopidae [5] Conops [3] Sarcophagidae [5] Metopia [3] – Metopia argyrocephala [5] – Metopia leucocephala [7] Physocephala – Physocephala chrysorrhoea [5,7] – Physocephala vittata [5,7] Senotainia Senotainia albifrons [7] Sphecapata [3] – Sphecapata conica [5,7] |
Parasitic species outside the Netherlands:
| Coleoptera (Beetles) | Dermestidae [7] Dermestes – Dermestes murinus [7] |
| Mutilididae (Velvet ants) | Dasylabris |
| Diptera (Flies) | Sarcophagidae Phylloteles – Phylloteles pictipennis [7] |
6. IDENTIFICATION
Length males: 13 – 17 mm
Length females: 8 – 10 mm
Genus
The genus Philanthus can be recognised by the following characteristics:
1. Forewing: with 3 submarginal cells [9,10,11]
2. Forewing: submarginal cell 3 not petiolate or triangular [9,10,11]
3. Forewing: first discoidal transvers vein joins submarginal cell 2 [9,11], second discoidal transvers vein joins submarginal cell 3 [9,10,11]
4. Head: Inner edge of the eye with indentation [9,10,11]
5. Notauli: short and unclear [10,11]
6. Propodeum: upper side densely punctuated and haired [10,11]
7. Abdomen: tergite 1 not petiolate [9,10,11]
8. Abdomen: tergites with yellow spots [9,10,11]
1. Antenna with 12 segments [9,10,11]
2. Abdomen with 6 segments [9,10,11]
3. Abdomen without pygidium [11]
4. Clypeus: without long hairs [10,11]
5. Foreleg: tarsus with tarsal comb [9]
KOP
1. Clypeus: front edge clypeus with two teeth [10,11]
2. Head: red curved elongated spot behind the eye. The color is very variable [5].
THORAX
–
ABDOMEN
–
specimen caught for photo identification on 10-vi-2022
1. Antenna with 13 segmenten [9,10,11]
2. Abdomen with 7 segments [9,10,11]
3. Clypeus: with long hairs [10]
HEAD
1. Forehead (frons): with triangular crown shaped yellow spot [9]
2. Head: yellow colored rounded long spots behind the eye. The color is very variable [5]
THORAX
–
ABDOMEN
–
References
1 Nederlands Soortenregister2 Waarneming.nl
3 Peeters, T.M.J., C. van Achterberg, W.R.B. Heitmans, W.F. Klein, V. Lefeber, A.J. van Loon, A.A. Mabelis, H. Nieuwen-huijsen, M. Reemer, J. de Rond, J. Smit, H.H.W. Velthuis, 2004. De wespen en mieren van Nederland (Hymenoptera: Aculeata). – Nederlandse Fauna 6. Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum Naturalis, Leiden, knnv Uitgeverij, Utrecht & European Invertebrate Survey – Nederland, Leiden.
5 Blösch, M. (2000). Die Grabwespen Deutschlands – Lebens‐weise, Verhalten, Verbreitung. 71. Teil. In Dahl, F.: Die Tierwelt Deutschlands. Begr.: 1925. – Keltern (Goecke & Evers). – 480 S. 341 Farbfotos. ISBN 3‐931374‐26‐2 (hardcover). DM 98,–. Zool. Reihe, 78: 353-353. https://doi.org/10.1002/mmnz.20020780208
6 BOHART, Richard M.; BOHART, Richard Mitchell; MENKE, Arnold S. Sphecid wasps of the world: a generic revision. Univ of California Press, 1976.
7 Ruchin, Alexander & Antropov, Alexander. (2019). Wasp fauna (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae, Chrysididae, Dryinidae, Tiphiidae, Mutillidae, Scoliidae, Pompilidae, Vespidae, Sphecidae, Crabronidae & Trigonalyidae) of Mordovia State Nature Reserve and its surroundings in Russia. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 11. 13195-13250. 10.11609/jott.4216.11.2.13195-13250.
9 KLEIN, Wim. De graafwespen van de Benelux. Jeugdbondsuitgeverij, Utrecht, 1996, 1-130. + KLEIN, Wim. De graafwespen van de Benelux: supplement. Jeugdbondsuitgeverij, 1999.
10 JACOBS, H. J (2007): Die Grabwespen Deutschlands Ampulicidae. Sphecidae, Crabronidae–Bestimmungsschlüssel in Blank, SM & Taeger, A (Hrsg): Die Tierwelt Deutschlands und der angrenzenden Meeresteile nach ihren Merkmalen und nach ihrer Lebensweise, Hymenoptera III–Keltern, Goecke & Evers, 79: 1-207.
11 Hermann Dollfuss, "Bestimmungsschlüssel der Grabwespen Nord- und Zentraleuropas (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) mit speziellen Angaben zur Grabwespenfauna Österreichs", Publikation der Botanischen Arbeitsgemeinschaft am O.Ö.Landesmuseum Linz, LINZ, 20. Dezember 1991
12 PIEK, Tom (ed.). Venoms of the Hymenoptera: biochemical, pharmacological and behavioural aspects. Elsevier, 2013.
