Mutilla europaea
Mutilla europaea
Mutilla europaea is a Hymenoptera of the family of ants wasps ( Mutillidae ). The species can be very difficult to separate from Mutilla marginata and Mutilla brutia.
Features
The animals reach a body length of 10 to 15 millimeters (females ) or 11 to 17 millimeters (male). Mesonotum and scutellum are usually red, rare colored black. The rest of the body is colored black on the abdomen there are three binding with white hair. The second tergite is dotted coarse and dense. The legs are black hairy. Females have significantly smaller compound eyes. Between the third and fourth tergite a Stridulationsorgan is designed, with which the animals can be produced by rubbing against each other tones.
Occurrence
The species is in North Africa, Europe and spread east to Siberia. They inhabited different habitats and occurs also in the settlement area. The animals come from the end of May before the end of August. They are found widely in Central Europe.
Way of life
Mutilla europaea parasitizes the larvae of bumblebees, especially the arable bumblebee (Bombus pascuorum ). The female seeks out the host nest and then digs up a gear in the earth. This eggs are laid in cells with bumblebee larvae. The Mirage ant larva eats not only the bumble bee larva, but also any remaining nectar and pollen stores. Sometimes bumblebee nests can be very heavily infested, so that practically only hatch deceit ants instead of bumblebees. The females of Mutilla europaea are very nimble and have a strong exoskeleton, which can not be penetrated by the bumblebees usually. You can humans inflict very painful stings. The males can be observed in the summer of umbelliferous plants.