Within the various natural habitats complex food webs are developed where some animals are eaten by others, relationships that allow the development and stable maintenance of ecosystems. Thus, we find that, in some cases, insects are part of the food of different types of animals, as occurs with wasps and bees, which are eaten by a variety of species, including in some cases nests or honeycombs full of honey of the latterThey can also be affected by certain fungi or protozoa that attack them and ultimately cause death.
Do you want to know which are the predators of wasps and bees? In this article on our site we will talk about the main enemies of bees and wasps, so we invite you to continue reading.
European bee-eater (Merops apiaster)
The European bee-eater is a migratory bird with a wide distribution in Africa and Europe. It lives in various types of habitats such as savannahs, forests, thickets and agricultural areas, usually near freshwater bodies. The food of this colorful bird is made up of insects, being especially a predator of bees, but it can also include wasps and other flying insects.
It is a very agile bird that catches its prey in mid-flight, holding it by the middle of its body, to perch on a perch, where it will hit it against it until it is immobile. This way you avoid being stung by bees or wasps. Then he throws it vertically and swallows it. Pairs with young bring insects to them until they learn to catch them on their own.
Great Tit (Parus major)
The titmouse is another predator of wasps and bees. It is a beautiful bird that ranges across Africa, Asia and Europe, living in various types of forests, such as deciduous, open, mixed or coniferous, as well as in gardens and even in the boreal taiga. The great tit is omnivorous, since in summer it feeds on insects due to their abundance, when they have young they feed them mainly with caterpillars, while in winter they consume seeds and fruits.
By foraging in the vegetation, it catches its prey to feed.
Bee hunting blowfly (Mallophora ruficauda)
This botfly is very curious, it lives in Central and South America and, along with other species, it belongs to a group known as "robber flies", which have the ability to mimic, imitating a bumblebee with its large size, body covered with black hairs, the presence of a yellow stripe on thorax and abdomen pointed; even when flying you can hear a buzz similar to that of bumblebees.
This type of fly is quite aggressive and, among other types of insects, hunts and preys on both bees and wasps When it catches its prey, it injects a toxic saliva with its proboscis that paralyzes the victim. Then, with the enzymes it possesses, the predigestion of the animal begins to be absorbed later.
Meet other types of flies in this other post if you want to expand your knowledge about these peculiar animals.
Bienteveo common (Pitangus sulphuratus)
The common bienteveo is also known as bichofeo or cristofué, among other names. It is a native bird of America that extends from the north to the south of the continent, inhabiting both humid forests and savannahs, thickets and populated areas. It is an omnivorous bird, which has a wide diet that includes everything from fish to amphibians, which it traps in the water. However, it does not dive more than 3 or 4 times, so if it wants to continue eating, it then opts to catch insects including wasps
Silver Spider (Argiope argentata)
Other predator of bees is this species of spider, from the group of weavers, which is quite widespread in America. This arachnid consumes various types of prey, including bees and other pollinating insects. Although there is a lack of studies in this regard, the possibility has been raised that the spider weaves its webs in flowering plants that attract bees through the reflection of ultraviolet rays. Apparently, the silk of this spider, like the flowers, also reflects UV rays, which is why bees are attracted and trapped in the webs.
Greater wax moth (Galleria mellonea)
This is a species that belongs to the Lepidoptera order, where butterflies and moths are found, and is considered an important enemy of bee hives. The greater moth lays its eggs in the nests or combs of honey bees, which initially provides them with protection. However, when the larvae emerge, they act as parasites that end up destroying entire hives because they feed on the nest itself, since its materials are nutritious for them, and they even trap the bees themselves.
Something similar occurs with the lesser wax moth (Achoia Griselle), which is capable of infesting entire colonies of bees and destroying them. Both types of moths cause significant losses in beekeeping, as they quickly become a pest that preys on bees and their nests.
Black bear (Ursus americanus)
The black bear, native to North America, is also another predator of wasps and bees, being in fact fond of consuming honey. It is an omnivorous animal that includes various animal and vegetable sources in its diet, including carrion. Within this variety of foods, devours entire nests of wasps and bees and delights in the honey produced by the latter.
praying mantis (praying mantis)
The European mantis, as it is also known, like the other species of the genus, belongs to a group of carnivorous insects that catch other different types of insects, among which are the wasps and bees. Mantids capture their prey with their front legs and consume it while it is still alive, so they do not kill it before devouring it. These animals trap by ambush, since when they remain motionless they camouflage themselves very well in the vegetation.
Honey badger (Mellivora capensis)
This badger is native to Asia and Africa, where it inhabits various types of forests and grasslands. Like other types of mustelids, it is a mainly carnivorous animal, which includes in its diet whole honeycombs of bees, consuming not only the nest and insects, but also the honey they produce.
Parasites
Wasps and bees also have other types of enemies, which are made up of different types of parasites. One of them is Nosema apis, a microscopic fungus that infects adult honey bees and causes a disease that degenerates the insect, causing, among other consequences, the impossibility of to fly. We observe the result of this parasite in the image.
Another parasite that affects honey bees is a protozoan identified as Malpighamoeba Mellificae, which causes a type of amebiasis in these insects, seriously affecting them, which can cause massive death in a hive.
We can also mention a species of mite called Varroa Sacobsoni, which parasitizes honey bees in Asia, which is introduced into hives and feeds on the hemolymph of its hosts.
On the other hand, an example of an enemy of wasps is the parasitic insect Xenos vesparum, which in its larval form manages to enter in the body of the wasp to parasitize it until it emerges from it. In the case of female wasps, they remain sterile as a result of the aforementioned parasitism. It is not known exactly if the same occurs in males.
Human being
Finally, we want to mention that, in addition to the natural predators of wasps and bees mentioned, these animals currently have an artificial enemy created by ourselves and corresponds to the chemicals usedfor the control of pests in agriculture, which significantly affect these insects, which perform a vital function for life on the planet, such as pollination. Therefore, we can say that the human being is clearly another of the great enemies of wasps and bees.
From our site we recommend not to use commercial insecticides in homes, nor to kill wasps or bees that enter our homes, but to find a safe way to get them out. If you find a beehive or wasp nest, it is essential to call the authorities so that they proceed to remove it and relocate it in a suitable space.
