Philanthus

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Philanthus

The European beewolf, Philanthus triangulum

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Crabronidae
Subfamily:	Philanthinae
Genus:	Philanthus (Fabricius, 1790)

The genus Philanthus of the subfamilly Philanthinae is in the family Crabronidae. The genus consists of solitary, predatory wasps, most of which prey on bees, giving them the common name "beewolves." The adult females dig tunnels in the ground for nesting, while the territorial males mark twigs and other objects with pheromones to claim the territory from competing males.

As with all other sphecoid wasps the larvae are carnivorous, forcing the inseminated females to hunt for other invertebrates, (in this case bees) on which she lays her eggs, supplying the larvae with prey when they emerge. The adults collect nectar from flowers or from squeezing the bees they capture for prey, which is their energy source for flight. The prevalent European species P. triangulum specializes in preying upon honeybees, thus making it a minor pest for beekeepers. Other Philanthus species may specialize on other bee species, or they may be generalists which prey upon a wide variety of bees, or other types of Hymenoptera.

They are notable in stinging their prey in a membranous location on the ventral surface where the venom quickly paralyzes major voluntary muscles, yet does not kill the prey. The prey may attempt to sting in return, but it is always grabbed in such a way that only well armored portions of the beewolf's body is presented. The beewolf carries the prey back to a tunnel, but usually only stores it temporarily, until it is later used to provision a cell burrow, where an egg is laid. The prey may be squeezed to extract any nectar that it was carrying, upon which the female beewolf will feed.