Wasp hill

Philanthus triangulum (European beewulf)♂︎

Last update: 22 June 2022


Common

LOCATION: Krimpen aan den IJssel, garden

OBSERVATION:
2022-VI-03


A male Europen beewulf (Philanthus triangulum) [1] digs a sleeping place for the night.

European beewulf ♂︎ (Philanthus triangulum), imago

At his landing spot he gave a stone in the sand a lot of attention. He tried to move it by pulling it with its teeth and digging around it. However this cause it to tilt and sink further away in the sand. It revealed a space behind though.

European beewulf ♂︎ (Philanthus triangulum), imago

Judging by the relocation effort the wasp in I suspect the stone was the cover of a sleeping place it had dug earlier.

After toiling a long time it became clear to him the stone was there to stay and he started digging a new sleeping place next to it. The white stone is visible behind the wasp in the photos.

European beewulf ♂︎ (Philanthus triangulum), imago
European beewulf ♂︎ (Philanthus triangulum), imago
European beewulf ♂︎ (Philanthus triangulum), imago

It’s new temporary home was closed from the inside with sand.

European beewulf ♂︎ (Philanthus triangulum), imago

The next afternoon the new location turned out to be covered by a stone as well.


Literature

1 Nederlands Soortenregister

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