Carnivorous Bees?

[brian1208]

I was recording a Tawny Miner Bee feeding on a newly opened Loganberry flower when I spotted that it had an insect / bug (aphid?) in its mandibles and appeared to be eating it.

Its not something I've spotted before and although I know that wasps are carnivores I hadn't realised that some of our bee species may be too

It struck me it may have been an accident if the aphid was feeding on the same bit of the flower I guess the bee may have scooped it up but it made quick work of getting it down

Has anyone seen this or know of such behaviour?

(three not very good pics to show this)

Tawny Miner Bee with insect in mouth 1 by Brian Wadie Photographer, on Flickr

Tawny Miner Bee with insect in mouth 2 by Brian Wadie Photographer, on Flickr

Tawny Miner Bee with insect in mouth gone by Brian Wadie Photographer, on Flickr

(why do the interesting things happen in the most impossible to record places? )

[brian1208]

Re: Carnivorous Bees?

I found a brief article which may be related to this, with letter from Darwin that seemed to suggest that they may not eat the bug but open it up to extract nectar from it (the result is the same - a dead bug)

Apparently their anatomy doesn't permit them to eat such a thing

Unless of course anyone knows different? (I find it fascinating that there is always something new to learn in the macro world )

[Guest]

Re: Carnivorous Bees?

Of course there are carnivorous bees, they're also cannibalistic -
I've overheard he bees say to she bees' "I could eat you honey" ....

[brian1208]

Re: Carnivorous Bees?

Thanks Mark, I needed a smile and you gave me one just now

Mind you, its always possible you misheard, I suspect what he said was "I could eat your honey"

[Guest]

Re: Carnivorous Bees?

Thanks Mark, I needed a smile and you gave me one just now

Mind you, its always possible you misheard, I suspect what he said was "I could eat your honey"

After that illuminating comment I think I should leave the room, Brian ...

Edit: That's possible too, Brian

[brian1208]

Re: Carnivorous Bees?

I've just seen (and got much better pics of) an Ashy Miner bee (Andrena cineraria) doing the same thing

Its a bit like buses, you don't see one then two turn up at the same time (its also the first time I've recorded this species in the garden! )

Expect to see it posted later!