Hymenoptera Collection (#9)

Honey bee (Apis mellifera) foraging on Pink asters (Aster novae-angliae) in garden, Wiltshire, England, UK, SeptemberSeptember. Property released

Group of Large rose sawfly larvae (Arge pagana) feeding on young Rose leaves (Rosa sp.) in garden, Wiltshire, England, UK, August. Property released

Queen Hornet (Vespa crabro) feeding on Knotweed flower (Persicaria bistorta superba )
Queen Hornet (Vespa crabro) feeding on Knotweed flower (Persicaria bistorta " superba" ) in garden, Wiltshire, England, UK, May. Property released

Queen Red tailed bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) feeding on Yellow tree peony (Paeonia ludlowii) flower in garden, with house in the background, Wiltshire, England, UK, April, Property released

Worker European honey bees (Apis mellifera) in beehive, Suffolk, UK, August

Honey bee (Apis mellifera) in flight, Surrey, England, July

Honey bee (Apis mellifera) visiting Grape hyacinth, Sheffield, UK

Picture No. 12019777
Black Weaver Ant - on leaf - Klungkung, Bali, Indonesia. Date:

Honeybee workers exchanging food - known as trophallaxis (Apis mellifera) Sussex, UK

Ichneumon wasp (Compsocryptus sp. ?) in flight, Williamson county, Texas, USA, November
Ichneumon wasp (Compsocryptus sp.?) in flight, Williamson county, Texas, USA, November

Honey bee (Apis mellifera) approaching a red poppy (Papaver rhoeas) in a small meadow of wildflowers. Nevada, USA, July

Wood Ant (Formica rufa) workers on top of their nest synchronise ejection of formic acid droplets to maximise deterrent effect on potential predator, UK

Close-up of Honey bee (Apis mellifera) on flower

Leaf cutting ants (Atta cephalotes) cutting pieces of leaf, rainforest habitat, Costa Rica

Bachacs / Leafcutter ants {Atta cephalotes} carrying sections of Cocoa leaf bearing riders thought to ward off parasitic flies which would otherwise lay their eggs on the pieces of leaf

Leafcutter bee, solitary bees (Megachile sp. ), adult feeding on Indian Blanket, Fire Wheel
Leafcutter bee, solitary bees (Megachile sp.), adult feeding on Indian Blanket, Fire Wheel (Gaillardia pulchella), Texas, USA

Ant compound eye, SEM C018 / 0552
Ant compound eye, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). The units in a compound eye, the ommatidia, each contain a cornea and photoreceptor cells

Turtle ant C018 / 2464
Turtle ant. Close-up of a turtle ant (Cephalotes sp.) soldier, showing its flattened head shield. Photographed in Peru

Bullet ant stinger C018 / 2441
Bullet ant stinger. Close-up of the abdomen of a bullet ant (Paraponera clavata), showing its stinger. Bullet ants get their name from their powerful and potent sting

Ant eye C018 / 2440
Ant eye. Close-up of the head of an ant (family Formicidae), showing on of its compound eyes. Each compound eye is made up of numerous simple eyes called ommatidia

Uncapped honeycomb. Close-up of honeycomb from a honey bee (Apis mellifera) colony. The individual cells contain honey

Pepsis heros, tarantula hawk wasp
The tarantula hawk wasp has a wingspan of 11cm, and a body length up to 7cm. As their name suggests, they feed on tarantual spiders

Megachile pluto, Wallaces giant bee

Western Honeybee (Apis mellifera), worker bee, side view

Female parasitic wasp
A female parasitic wasp inspecting an oak apple which she will pierce with her ovipositor to lay her eggs

Pepsis sp. Tarantula hawk
Watercolour and ink from Drawings of Mandibulata Insects of India, Thomas Hardwicke Collection; 1821 Date: 1821

Spiders, insects and hummingbird on guava tree
Hand-coloured engraving based on Maria Sibylla Merian watercolour. From Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium, 1726 edition. Date: 1726

African Driver Ant, Dorylus nigricans, carrying a beetle pupa, side view

Giant Wood Wasp, Urocerus gigas, front view

Sawfly species (Allantus scrophularia)

Gall of a Gall Wasp or Gallfly (Cynipidae), on the leaf of an Elm tree (Ulmus), Upper Bavaria, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Brood comb with drone brood surrounded by worker bees -Apis mellifera var. carnica-

Honey bees -Apis mellifera var carnica-, worker bees and male drones on bright honeycomb

Bee -Apis sp. - on Borage -Borago officinalis-, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, Europe
Bee -Apis sp.- on Borage -Borago officinalis-, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, Europe

Two honey bees, left, Carnian -Apis mellifera var carnica-, right, a hybrid Italian Bee -Apis ligustica bast.- on honeycomb with a propolis coating

Ant anus, SEM C018 / 0550
Ant anus, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Ants excrete bodily waste through a single orifice, their anus, which is located at the tip of the abdomen

Bee head, SEM C018 / 0546
Bee head, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). This is the head of a small bumblebee. Flying insects often have two sets of eyes, coloured pink here

Wasp eye. Close-up of one of the compound eyes of a wasp (order Hymenoptera), showing the individual lenses (ommatidia, hexagonal)

Bullet ant C018 / 2481
Bullet ant. Close-up of a bullet ant (Paraponera clavata), showing its large jaws (mandibles, centre). Bullet ants get their name from their powerful and potent sting

Cretaceous of Brazil, prehistoric scene C013 / 7112
Cretaceous of Brazil. Artwork of a coastal lagoon scene reconstructed from fossils in the Crato Formation of Brazil (108 million years ago, during the Cretaceous)

Myrmecodia beccarii, anthouse plant
Finished watercolour by John Frederick Miller from an outline drawing by Sydney Parkinson, made during Captain James Cooks first voyage across the Pacific, 1768-1771

Alaptus magnanimus, fairy fly
Fairy flies are among the tiniest insects on our planet measuring in at around 0.21mm long

Asilidae, robber flies

Hymenoptera specimens
A case containing various Hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps and their allies) specimens, held at the Natural History Museum, London

Bombus sp. bumble bee
Side-view mid-flight photograph of a bumble bee, photograph taken in the U.K

Gigantiops destructor, South American jumping ant
High magnification image made with a scanning electron microscope of the head of a South American jumping ant. Image coloured artificially by a computer

Ant, SEM
Ant (family Formicidae), coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). One of its compound eyes (black) is seen, as well as two long antennae that are mounted on the head between the eyes

Mason Wasp - collecting water from birdbath for making mud for nest building
ASW-4771 Mason Wasp - collecting water from birdbath for making mud for nest building Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Synagris analis Occurs in eastern areas of southern Africa. Alan J. S

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"Hymenoptera: The Intricate World of Bees, Ants, and Orchids" Delve into the fascinating world of Hymenoptera, a diverse group of insects that includes honey bees (Apis mellifera), leaf cutter ants (Atta sp), and even orchids like Ophrys apifera. Let's start with the industrious honey bees. Apis mellifera is known for its intricate honeycomb structures and remarkable life cycle. From egg to larva to pupa, these tiny creatures undergo a transformation that culminates in their emergence as fully developed bees. Explore an expanded cross-section of their hive and marvel at the insets showcasing their diligent work. Moving on to internal anatomy, get a glimpse inside the body of a Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) through a detailed cross-section. Discover how every organ plays a crucial role in their survival and efficient functioning within the colony. Venturing into Costa Rica's lush landscapes, witness Leaf cutter ants (Atta sp) diligently carrying plant matter back to their nests. These tireless workers demonstrate incredible strength as they transport pieces of leaves across various terrains. Nature never ceases to amaze us with its mimicry; behold the enchanting Ophrys apifera or bee orchid. This beautiful flower has evolved over time to resemble female bees, attracting male counterparts for successful pollination. Zooming in closer, observe Leaf-cutter ants meticulously carrying sections of leaves in stunning detail captured by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Their teamwork and resourcefulness are truly admirable. In Welder Wildlife Refuge at Sinton lies another captivating sight - Apis mellifera buzzing around wild honey cones. Witness this mesmerizing display as these European honey bees feed on ice plant flowers (Sedum spectabile), contributing to nature's delicate balance. A digital composite showcases an impressive line-up of Leaf-cutter ants marching in unison, carrying leaves to their colony.