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Project Noah Nature School
Philanthus gibbosus
Philanthus gibbosus is a bee-hunting wasp, the most common and widespread member of the genus in North America. Females construct nests in soil cavities and adults feed on nectar. Females will actively stalk bees (commonly Halictidae) & wasps that are busy gathering nectar and pollen themselves and will use this prey to provision their nests for food when their eggs hatch.
Most of North America. Areas of other small foraging bees & wasps.
Observed on Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum).
Spotted on Jul 1, 2012
Submitted on Jul 22, 2012
4 Comments
There were many tumbling flower beetles, that were residents. Also a few different species of flower longhorns, snout beetles & flower scarabs. Coleoptera definitely contributed to this tiny habitat :)
I am holding my breath. I love a closer focus on any species or habitat. Are there many beetles?
Thank you Martini!
I am doing research on the arthropod biodiversity found on these hybrid daisies. I observed more than 80 species during a period of 1 week, so many more photos yet to come!
What an impressive series of pollinating insects. You have done some good homework. You have found a very productive daisy bush. It shows clearly the massive advantage for modern flying insects when flowering plants evolved. Now they (both) rule the world.