| Kleptoparasitic interactions among animals |
| Hymenoptera: Crabronidae |
|
Pompilidae, or Digger wasps, is a large family of aculeate wasps. Most species are nest-provisioning predators, but some species have adopted a kleptoparasitic lifestyle. They oviposit in nests of the host. The egg of the kleptoparasite hatches before that of the host, after which the hatched larva consumes the egg of the host, and then the prey provisioned by the host.
|
| Nysson maculosus | ||
|
||
|
Amstelveen, the Netherlands; 16 June 2007. Kleptoparasite of various Bembicini, three of which are shown here below. |
||
|
Gorytes quadrifasciatus |
Gorytes quinquecinctus |
Harpactus lunatus |
|
|
|
| Amstelveen, the Netherlands; 16 July 2008. | Drenthe, the Netherlands; 1 August 2009. | Amstelveen, the Netherlands; 13 June 2007. |