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Male Flower Wasp carrying wingless female. The male is brightly coloured yellow, white and black. The female is dull brown colour.
Photograph copyright: ozwildlife - all rights reserved. Used with permission.
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Male and female Flower Wasp
Photograph copyright: ozwildlife - all rights reserved. Used with permission.
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Flower Wasp in flowering gum
Photograph copyright: ozwildlife - all rights reserved. Used with permission.
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Flower Wasp in flowering gum
Photograph copyright: ozwildlife - all rights reserved. Used with permission.
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Black Flower Wasp in Leptospermum shrub
Photograph copyright: ozwildlife - all rights reserved. Used with permission.
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Black Flower Wasp in Leptospermum shrub
Photograph copyright: ozwildlife - all rights reserved. Used with permission.
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FLOWER WASP FACTS
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Identification
Flower Wasps are parasitic wasps. Many species parasitize the larvae of burrowing beetles. The females are stout and wingless with legs adapted for digging. They are often seen with the male Flower Wasp flaying around carrying the wingless female while mating. Some species are brightly colored others are all black in colour.
Size
winged male 10mm, wingless female 6mm
Habitat
often seen flying from flower to flower on insect attracting native plants
Food
adults feed on nectar
Breeding
The female Flower Wasp burrows through the soil and lays an egg on beetle grub. When the egg hatches the wasp larva feeds on the beetle grub.
Classification
| Class: | Insecta | | Order: | Hymenoptera | | Family: | Tiphiidae | | Genus: | Tiphiidae family | | Species: | | | Common Name: | Flower Wasp |
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