hymenoptera

Long-horned bee Eucera longicornis illustrated for South Devon National landscape

Ivy bee Colletes hederae illustrated for South Devon National landscape

Brown-banded carder bee Bombus humilus illustrated for South Devon Living landscape

From the series of Animals of Montserrat colouring-in illustrations commissioned by UKOTCF

From the series of Animals of Montserrat colouring-in illustrations commissioned by UKOTCF

Broken-belted bumble bee Bombus soroeensis, showing the bumble bee in flight, male bee

Broken-belted male bumblebee in flight.  Illustration for Swedish packaging company

Red-tailed bumblebee Bombus lapidarius worker showing orange abdominal segments

Wasps and bees hibernating in cracks in an old wall, showing common UK bee and social wasp species in the mortar of a church wall

Orchid bee Euglossa cybelia with Cycnoches guttulatum orchid.  Illustration from “The Hidden Universe” by Alexandre Antonelli

Cycnoches guttulatum orchid with species specific pollinator Euglossa cybelia orchid bee.  Illustration from The Hidden Universe: Adventures in Biodiversity by Alexandre Antonelli

Trapdoor jaw ant Odontomachus bauri head showing mandibles with trigger hairs From “30 Animsl that made us Smarter” by Patrick Aryee (BBC Books)

Wood ant nest.  This nest belongs to the Southern red wood ant, Formica rufa.  Wood ant nests do differ between species, although it can be hard to tell them apart.

Nest and budded smaller nest of wood ant.  This budding often happens with wood ant species.

Mating during nuptial flight Formica rufa Southern Red wood ant queen and male

Worker caste of the Narrow headed ant Formica exsecta.  This species have curved backs to their heads.

Slender ant Leptothorax acervorum worker.  This ant is only 3mm, and although similar to the Shining Guest ant, has a darker and less smooth head.

Scottish wood ant Formica aquilonia worker. These ants are only modestly hairy.

Southern Red wood ant Formica rufa.  One of the most common species of European wood ant.

Shining Guest ant Formicoxenus nitidulus worker.  This tiny species is extremely shiny, and only 2.75mm long.

Hairy wood ant Formica lugubris, showing species-specific long hairs.  These reach up to and beyond the eyes.

Slave making or Blood red wood ant Formica sanguinea.  These wood ants are far redder than the other wood ant species.

Thorax and hairs detail of Hairy wood ant Formica lugubris.  Hairs are longer and more numerous than other wood ant species, and extend beyond the eyes.

Social parasitism in ants. The queen of the Slave maker ant, Formica sanguinea, being tended to by workers of Dusky ant Formica fusca.