The Society for the study of flies (Diptera)
Affiliated to the British Entomological and Natural History Society (BENHS)
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#1�2018-10-01 20:42:23
- mwoods
- Registered user
- Name: Michael Woods
- From: Kent UK
- Registered: 2018-07-24
- Posts: 32
Wasps and hoverflies
During the summer I saw two Volucella species (inanis and zonaria) feedind on umbellifers about 8 meters from a wasp nest in a log over several weeks.� The wasp nest became quiet ( i.e. no wasps) unseasonably early during August. Other nests are evidently still active judging by the number of wasps I see every day.� Is it possible that the hoverflies wrought such destruction on the wasp larvae that the wasps in that particular nest gave up?
I could of course invade the log and see what's in there but I am reluctant to do that in case there are Volucella larvae in there. Not very scientific but there you go.
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#2�2018-12-23 23:39:34
- PIERRE MILLE
- DF Members
- Name: Pierre MILLE
- From: Conflans Ste-Honorine-FRANCE
- Registered: 2010-02-14
- Posts: 52
- Website
Re: Wasps and hoverflies
Bonjour,
Mon message est tardif et je m'en excuse.
La prog�niture de la Volucella inanis tr�s plate, pr�sente la particularit� de se glisser dans la cellule, derri�re la larve de son h�te et de s�en nourrir directement. On qualifie ces mœurs d�ectoparasito�des : la femelle ne pond pas directement dans le corps de la larve de son h�te mais � l�ext�rieur (ecto-) et la jeune volucelle finit par le tuer (parasi-to�de). N�crophages et pr�datrices, les� larves de Volucelle transparente (V. pellucens) et de V. zonaria� se rencontrent dans la couche de sol constitu�e de divers mat�riaux en dessous des nids de gu�pes sociales. La larve de V. zonaria, qui se laisse tomber dans les latrines du nid, a un r�gime saprophage. Couverte d��pines qui retiennent les d�bris, sa couleur blanc cass�.
Si vollucella participe au nettoyage du nid des gu�pes sociales� j'ai des doutes sur l'effondrement d'une colonie enti�re.
Bonne journ�e
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