My relative has been stung several times and is understandably not happy when wasps or even bees are too close. As a child, wasps we called “yellow jackets” were often attracted to my hair. They buzzed around my face for long minutes. It taught me to just ignore them. (I was only stung once when I unwittingly stepped on and partially collapsed an underground nest.) So if I encounter an interesting wasp or bee, I stop and take photos. I find the tiny metallic green bees particularly attractive. One June day, I saw what I thought was a cool-morning basking bumblebee–but it seemed to be holding onto an ichneumon wasp?
What Is This Bumblebee Doing Wrestling With a Therion Wasp?
The “bee” I encountered was perched on a sunny shrub leaf along a morning-dark trail. I often see bees and other insects basking to warm up on spot-lit leaves like this one. It was as large as a Carpenter Bee, and I stopped a ways back to take a photo with my long lens.
To my surprise, as I was focusing closely, I saw a common type of ichneumon wasp called a Therion was underneath the bee.
This is how I usually see Therion wasps: flying around grasses and plants at calf level.
I thought Therion wasps are predators. But if it was trying to catch this bee, why was it underneath it? (I later found out adult Therions are not predatory. Their young eat insects but the adults generally eat nectar, pollen or sap.)
When A Bee Is Not a Bee: Bee Mimics Are Everywhere
I watched the bee and wasp combination for some time but it was obvious the wasp was not attacking the bee. In fact, the wasp was not moving at all.
Taking out my cell phone, I moved closer hoping to get a better macro photo. Of course, the “bee” flew away–carrying the wasp.
That’s when I was sure I had not been looking at a Bee at all. It had been some kind of Bee Mimic.
Bumble Bee Mimic Robber Fly Catches Therion Wasp
The correct headline should have read that a Bumble Bee Mimic Robber Fly had caught its prey.
When I looked for an id for my large insect, it was pretty obvious is was a Bumble Bee mimic, and the id that seems to fit best is “Bumble Bee Mimic Robber Fly.” BugGuide says they are found throughout eastern North America.
According to a few sources, they prey on most insects. Still, I bet the Therion was surprised that an apparent bee was actually a deadly enemy!
I never know what I will find on any walk in the woods: that’s what makes it so much fun!
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