A silken fungus beetle (Cryptophagidae) attached to a bumble bee (Bombus spp.). Photo copyright Laura Russo, Penn State University.
Researcher Laura Russo was identifying bumble bees (Bombus spp.) collected off of thistles (Asteraceae) and came across a queen bee with an odd looking proboscis (a hollow, straw-like organ). After looking at this bee under a microscope, Russo found a small silken fungus beetle (Cryptophagidae) attached. She explains, "The beetle hides in flower heads, waiting for an unsuspecting bumble bee to arrive. The bumble bee, expecting a sweet snack, extends its proboscis, only to be unpleasantly surprised as the beetle clamps on. Despite its best efforts, the bumblebee is unable to remove the beetle, and is forced to fly back to its nest for help. When it arrives at the nest, the beetle drops off, and finds other members of its species." This phenomenon, transportation of one organism by another more mobile one, is called phoresy. Once inside the bee's nest, the beetle feeds on feces and detritus and mates. Beetle larvae overwinter in the nest with the bees and fly away the following spring.
References: Laura Russo, The Penn State University; The Phoresy of Antherophagus, William Morton Wheeler, Psyche, vol. 26, no. 6, pp. 145-152, Dec. 1919; Phoresy on a Neotropical bumblebee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) by Anterophagus (Coleoptera: Cryptophagidae), Gabriela Chavarria, Psyche, vol. 101, pp. 109-112, 1994
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What is the Difference Between a Wasp and a Bee?
A paper wasp (Polistes metrica) foraging on a flower. Photo courtesy of David Cappaert, www.insectimages.org.
Not sure if what you are looking at is a wasp or a bee? Typically, wasps have a slender body that appears smooth and shiny. Bees have a rounder body and appear very hairy compared to wasps. Wasps tend to be more aggressive, while bees are more mild mannered. Both wasps and bees will sting, however, while defending their colonies.
The species of honey bee commonly found today in the U.S. is Apis mellifera. There are 24 races of Apis mellifera, all of which have different physical and behavioral characteristics such as body color, wing length, and susceptibility to disease. Generally, worker honey bees are about five-eighths of an inch long and are brown or black with yellow-striped abdomens. Bumble bees are about 1-1/16 of an inch long. Yellowjackets, paper wasps, and mud daubers are colored black and yellow or black and white, and can range in size from about 5/8 of an inch (yellowjacket) to 7/8 of an inch (mud dauber) (References: Bee Identification, Texas A&M University and Africanized Honey Bees on the Move: Lesson Plans, University of Arizona Africanized Honey Bee Education Project).
A Very Handy Bee Manual:
The latest edition (June, 2009) of "The Very Handy Manual: How to Catch and Identify Bees and Manage a Collection" is now available!
Compiled mainly by Sam Droege at the USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab with input from specialist researchers and taxonomists over several years from 2004-2008, this guide provides detailed instructions on bee monitoring techniques including specimen collection, processing and management; bee identification; and more!
The Bee Genera of Eastern Canada The 39 genera of bees found in Canada east of Manitoba are keyed in dichotomous format with all key features illustrated.
Identification Atlas of the Vespidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata) of the northeastern Nearctic region The Vespidae of the northeastern Nearctic region are reviewed to include 92 established and four adventitious species. A brief introduction to the morphology, biology and distribution of Vespidae is given. Keys to subfamilies, genera and species are provided, and illustrated with 60 photographic plates (437 images) showing most diagnostic characters.
