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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) » Philanthus gibbosus

Species Philanthus gibbosus

Classification · Explanation of Names · Size · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Beewolf Wasp - Philanthus gibbosus Bee: 2012.06.24.29764 - Philanthus gibbosus Crabronidae Beewolves - Philanthus gibbosus - Philanthus gibbosus Philanthus gibbosus Pollinator Plot Visitors - Philanthus gibbosus Philanthus gibbosus? - Philanthus gibbosus Unidentified bug 80312017 - Philanthus gibbosus - female Crabronidae? - Philanthus gibbosus
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
No Taxon (Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps)
No Taxon (Apoidea sans Anthophila – Apoid Wasps)
Family Crabronidae (Square-headed Wasps, Sand Wasps, and Allies)
Subfamily Philanthinae
Tribe Philanthini
Genus Philanthus (Beewolves)
Species gibbosus (Philanthus gibbosus)
Explanation of Names
Philanthus gibbosus (Fabricius 1775)
gibbosus 'humped'
Size
8-10 mm
Range
coast to coast in NA(1)
Habitat
Forest edges, meadows, yards
Season
All season in the south; late Jun to mid-Sep in Canada
Food
larvae feed on bees (Sphecodes, Colletes etc.) and Crossocerus spp. Adults feed on nectar.
Life Cycle
Females with prey:

Colonies are small, but not close together, using any soil type, flat or steep earthen banks. Tunnels with ~7 cells to the side of the main tunnel. Each provsioned cell contains 8-16 bees, usually halictids. Occasionally 2 females will use the same tunnel opening, but each uses its own cells. Males dig small tunnels and close them, to sleep in during the night, usually in aggregations. Females keep nest closed and sleep in the tunnel at night.
Remarks
Each female raises its own brood. However several wasps have been seen sharing one burrow's entrance
See Also
Cerceris has some similar species.
Print References
Animal Behavior. Burrow sharing and nest transfer in the digger wasp Philanthus gibbosus (Fabricius)
Cal. Academy. The Life History and Habits of the solitary Wasp Philanthus gibbosus
Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences
Internet References
Discover Life
Works Cited
1.Ascher J.S., Pickering J. (2024) Discover Life bee species guide and world checklist (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila)
Contributed by Eric R. Eaton on 1 December, 2005 - 12:54pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Hannah Nendick-Mason, Beatriz Moisset, v belov, lee_penner, Robert H. Biagi
Last updated 8 July, 2023 - 10:20pm

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