Natural History Photographs


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
Authority:(Gmelin, 1790)
Deutsch:Gefleckte Kuckucksgrabwespe
Amstelveen, the Netherlands; 16 June 2007.

Kleptoparasite of various Bembicini, three of which are shown here below.
Gorytes
quadrifasciatus
Authority:(Fabricius, 1804)
Deutsch:Vierbinden-Zikadenjäger
Amstelveen, the Netherlands;
1 August 2009.
Gorytes
quinquecinctus
Authority:(Fabricius, 1793)
Deutsch:Garten-Zikadenjäger
Drenthe, the Netherlands;
16 July 2008.
Harpactus
lunulatus
Amstelveen, the Netherlands;
13 June 2007.