Nesting Behavior of Philanthus Sanbornii in Florida (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)
Abstract
The activities of an aggregation of Philanthus sanbornii were studied at the Archbold Biological Station, Lake Placid, FL. Females sat head outward in the entrances, investigated conspecific nests, grappled near entrances, removed sand from their burrows, captured honey bees in front of hives, and flew with prey to their nests. Apis mellifera (Apidae) workers and Colletes brimleyi (Colletidae) males comprised 20 and 24 of 49 prey, respectively, with the remainder being a C. brimleyi female, Halictidae, Megachilidae and Anthophoridae. Three long, deep unfinished nests contained terminal storage chambers and from 3 to 8 rearing cells. From 4 to 9 bees, usually of 2 or 3 families, were stored in a cell. The bees were totally or nearly devoid of pollen and some had presumably been cleaned by the wasps in the storage chambers or burrows. The wasp's egg was laid on a bee in the cell in the typical Philanthus position.Downloads
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