Philanthus

Taxobox
name = "Philanthus"

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image_width = 250px
image_caption = The European beewolf, "Philanthus triangulum"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Hymenoptera
familia = Crabronidae
subfamilia = Philanthinae
genus = "Philanthus"
genus_authority = (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.

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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 are 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.

pecies

The genus "Philanthus" contains about 170 species, only a very few of which are listed here.

*"Philanthus barbatus"
*"Philanthus basilaris"
*"Philanthus bicinctus"
*"Philanthus boharti"
*"Philanthus crabroniformis"
*"Philanthus gibbosus"
*"Philanthus gloriosus"
*"Philanthus lepidus"
*"Philanthus multimaculatus"
*"Philanthus nasalis"
*"Philanthus politus"
*"Philanthus pulcher"
*"Philanthus sanborni"
*"Philanthus solivagus"
*"Philanthus triangulum"
*"Philanthus ventilabris"
*"Philanthus zebratus"

External links

* [http://www.pherobase.com/database/species/species-Philanthus-triangulum.php Semiochemicals of Genus Philanthus, Pherobase]
* [http://bugguide.net/node/view/4345. The Genus Philanthus, BugGuide.Net]
* [http://www.eugraph.com/photos/insects/digwasp. Philanthus photos, video, digging wasp ecology]
* [http://www.hymis.info/fotos/pictures/list.php?tree=Aculeata.171.58&sub=yes&fam_level=2&tree_id=58&tree_status=plus&tree_seq=31 Hymis] Photographs of Palearctic species.