Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Registration is open for the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Apoidea sans Anthophila – Apoid Wasps » Square-headed Wasps, Sand Wasps, and Allies (Crabronidae) » Philanthinae » Philanthini » Beewolves (Philanthus)
Photo#288293
Bee Wolf on Buckwheat in California - Philanthus - female
Copyright © 2009 Harsi S. Parker

Bee Wolf on Buckwheat in California - Philanthus - Female
Webb Canyon , ~2000 ft. altitude, Los Angeles County, California, USA
June 13, 2009
The cool and overcast conditions on this day made getting close to the insects fairly easy. This extremely accommodating wasp was hanging out on Eriogonum and I took an unseemly number of photos! I decided to only post a few pics because I'm not certain if this is a commonplace species. I don't think that there is a view or angle of this wasp that I didn't capture though, so if more data is needed to make a positive ID, please just say the word and I will provide. Thanks!

Mixed oak & chaparral habitat.

Images of this individual: tag all
Bee Wolf on Buckwheat in California - Philanthus - female Bee Wolf on Buckwheat in California - Philanthus - female Bee Wolf on Buckwheat in California - Philanthus - female Bee Wolf on Buckwheat in California - Philanthus - female
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Harsi S. Parker on 14 June, 2009 - 3:43pm
Last updated 14 July, 2016 - 4:50pm

Female - Philanthus multimaculatus
Please compare with this female below, from your state. Many of the other images, of this species are males. The prominent tarsal rake spines on the forelegs and 6 abdominal segments = ♀
♀ This species has much wider yellow stripes on the abdomen, compared with most of the other closely related species, that are known from the west coast. Nice shooting!
… Bob Biagi, 14 July, 2016 - 4:07pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Harsi S. Parker, 15 June, 2009 - 8:28pm login or register to post comments

Philanthus
-
… John S. Ascher, 14 June, 2009 - 6:41pm login or register to post comments

 
I thought it might be a bee wolf...
...but this is my first time seeing one so I was unsure. Thanks, Dr. Ascher! Is there anything else I could show you in the way of images that would help get this one identified to species?
… Harsi S. Parker, 14 June, 2009 - 7:11pm login or register to post comments

Measurement...
I wasn't exactly sure of the size on this one, as I had no ruler with me at the time. But, I've figured out that most of the buckwheat blossoms average about 5 mm across, so I "guesstimate" this wasp at about 14-15 mm.
… Harsi S. Parker, 14 June, 2009 - 6:22pm login or register to post comments

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact