This is a place for any notes and observations relating to bees wasps and ants. Often, casual observations can be important in building up our knowledge of how aculeates behave, but all too frequently such observations are not recorded or collated. This leads to much valuable information being lost. The aim of this section is to build up a repository of casual observations of behaviour, which researchers can refer to when seeking information about aculeates.
Many of these notes were picked out from correspondence on the BWARS Forum. In addition BWARS also welcomes any notes you may… Read more
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Submitted by Nigel Jones on
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Submitted by Nigel Jones on
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Online
Britain - Steven Falk's Review of the Scarce and Threatened Bees, Wasp and Ants of Great Britain, published in 1991, and long out of print, may be available as a pdf online.
East Sussex - A Survey of the Bees and Wasps of fifteen Chalk Grassland Sites within the East Sussex Downs. This is an extensive report on this area by Steven Falk (2011).
Submitted by Anonymous on
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Previously regarded as a synonym for S.curraca, but Vikberg's 2000 treatment restores S. differens as a valid species (see Identification below)
Submitted by Anonymous on
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As one of the more recently defined taxa (Blüthgen, 1953) this species has rather more taxonomic stability than other species within the genus.
Submitted by Anonymous on
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There is some taxonomic uncertainty regarding this, and other, Spilomena species. Research for this Atlas suggests that BWARS initially took an outdated stance in considering this species to be distinct from Spilomena vagans Blüthgen (as per Richards, 1980 and Lomholdt, 1984). Dollfuss (1991), Falk (1991), Vikberg (2000) and Bitsch et al. (2001) all consider the two taxa to be one species: Spilomena troglodytes. This view is also being taken by the UK Species Inventory and implemented by the NBN Gateway. It is now accepted that Spilomena vagans is a… Read more
Submitted by Anonymous on
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There is some taxonomic uncertainty regarding this, and other, Spilomena species. Here, in line with BWARS, we are currently taking the stance held by Dollfuss (1991) that this species is synonymous with S. differens Blüthgen. However, Lomholdt (1984), Vikberg (2000) and Bitsch et al. (2001) treat the two as separate species. It would be useful to determine whether or not British specimens conform to the curruca sensu stricto or differens s.s. types, should each be promoted to true species in the future.
Submitted by Anonymous on
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The small (2.5–3.5mm) species within the genus Spilomena probably suffer, more than any other crabronids, from under-recording. This is on account of their diminutive size, making initial discovery and capture less likely and then observation of difficult microscopic features more challenging. Rearing specimens from samples of nesting material is a useful way of searching for these wasps.
This species is not directly included within Lomholdt (1984) other than as a note to separate it from the Fennoscandian speciality Spilomena exspectata Valkeila, although Bitsch… Read more
Submitted by Anonymous on
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A medium-sized, black and red species. It belongs to the subgenus Priocnemis sens. str., which includes, amongst the females, some of the most difficult of the British species to identify. Typical specimens have transverse striation on the propodeum well developed, relatively short, thick antennae, and a narrow metapostnotum. Males have distinct genital plates, but must be prepared properly to appreciate this character.
Submitted by Anonymous on
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This species reproduces by thelytokous parthenogenesis and so all individuals are female (Wahis & Durand, 2004). References to the male are based on misidentifications. The female is a rather large, black wasp with strongly bifasciate wings and thus superficially resembles a Dipogon species. However, the hind tibia has the pronounced scale-like teeth typical of Priocnemis.
Submitted by Anonymous on
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A medium-sized, black and red species. In the female the clear window in the otherwise infuscate wing-tip, usually characteristic of its subgenus, is absent or poorly developed. The male subgenital plate is fairly distinctive, but must be extruded fully.