Hymenoptera Collection

Honey Bee (Apis mellifera), internal anatomy, cross-section

Honey bees, (Apis mellifera) honeycomb and life cycle, expanded cross-section and insets

Leaf cutter ants (Atta sp) carrying colourful plant matter, reflected in water, Laguna del Lagarto, Santa Rita, Costa Rica

Tarantula Hawk, Pepsis heros, close up

Leaf cutter ants (Atta sp) carrying plant matter, Costa Rica

Ophrys apifera, bee orchid
Watercolour by Arthur Harry Church, 17 June 1913

Ant, SEM
Ant. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of an ant (family Formicidae). One of its compound eyes (red) is seen, as well as two long antennae that are mounted on the head between the eyes

Leaf-cutter ants carrying pieces of leaf
Leaf-cutter ants transporting neatly extracted pieces of leaf. These ants derive from the rainforests of Central and South America

Honey Bee, Apis mellifera, bees on wild honey cone, Welder Wildlife Refuge, Sinton, Texas, USA

Trap-jaw ant (Odontomachus chelifer) portrait, Wayqecha, Peru

Green tree ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) defending their leaf nest, Daintree River, Wet Tropics World Heritage area, Queensland, Australia

European honey bee (Apis mellifera) feeding on ice plant flowers (Sedum spectabile), Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. September

Line of Leaf-cutter ants (Atta sp) carrying leaves, digital composite

Leaf cutter ants (Atta cephalotes) carrying sections of leaves, to be used for cultivating nutritious fungi, Santa Rita, Costa Rica

Workers of Leafcutter Ants -Atta cephalotes- carrying leaf pieces into their nest, Tambopata Nature Reserve, Madre de Dios region, Peru

Trap-jaw ant (Odontomachus hastatus) with mandibles open, Los Amigos Biological Station, Peru

Garden bumblebee (Bombus hortorum) queen nectaring on Comfrey (Symphytum Hidcote Pink ) flowers. In garden, Surrey, England, UK. March

Portrait of a Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris). UK. Focus stacked image (dead specimen)

Honey bee (Apis mellifera) feeding from Lavender (Lavandula) flowers, Mayfield Lavender Farm, North Downs, Surrey, UK, July

Harvester ant, Messor sp. side view

Red ant, Myrmica molesta, close up

Wasps nest

Fire ant
Watercolour 405 by the Port Jackson Painter, entitled Mong, from the Watling Collection

Kingfisher
Plate 336, hand coloured copperplate etching from George Edwards The Gleanings of Natural History, Vol. 3 (1764). Annotated Crested kingfisher

Asian giant hornet head
Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia), close-up of the head. This is the worlds largest hornet, found in temperate and tropical Eastern Asia

Pollen on a bee leg, SEM
Pollen on a bee leg. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of pollen grains (pale purple) on the leg of a bee (superfamily Apoidea). Pollen grains are the male sex cells of a flowering plant

Cow killer velvet ant (Dasymutilla occidentalis) on white background, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, USA September

Engraving depicting wasps and their nests
5309490 Engraving depicting wasps and their nests; (add.info.: Engraving depicting wasps and their nests. A wasp is any insect of the order Hymenoptera)

Engraving depicting wasps and their nests
5309488 Engraving depicting wasps and their nests; (add.info.: Engraving depicting wasps and their nests. A wasp is any insect of the order Hymenoptera)

Curtis British Entomology Plate 436
Hymenoptera: *Emphytus fasciatus (Banded Tenthredo) [Plant: Sparganium simplex (Less Burr-reed)] Date: 1824-39

Army ant (Eciton burchellii) major soldier, Parque da Onca Parda Private Reserve, Sao Paulo, Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Brazil

Ashy mining bee (Andrena cineraria), feeding on Dandelion (Taraxacum offinicale) Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. September

Robins pincushion gall caused by Gall wasp (Diplolepis rosae) on wild Dog rose (Rosa canina), Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, UK. September

Garden bumblebee (Bombus hortorum) taking off from Knapweed, England, UK, August

Larvae of Birch sawfly (Craesus septentrionalis) in alarm position, Upper Bavaria, Germany. October

Himalayan honey bees (Apis dorsata laboriosa) on comb, Mount Namjagbarwa, Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon National Park, Tibet, China. October

Small scissor bee (Chelostoma campanularum) In flight approaching garden bee hotel carrying mud to seal nest tube, Hertfordshire, England, UK, June

Composite image of Wallaceas giant bee (Megachile pluto) with European honey bee (Apis melifera)
Composite image of Wallaces giant bee (Megachile pluto) with European honey bee (Apis melifera). This is the worlds largest bee, which is approximately 4 times larger than a European honey bee

Close up view of Honey Bee comb showing larvae in cells Norfolk, England, June 2017

Worker Honey bee (Apis mellifera) with pollen sac on back leg

Leafcutter ant (Atta sp) carrying leaf along branch, Amazonian Rainforest, Yavari Valley, Loreto, Peru

Sawfly larvae (Nematus pavidus) defensive posture, Peatlands Park, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. September

Acrobat ant (Crematogaster sp) tending aphids on white oak (Quercus sp) Washington State Park, Pennsylvania, USA September

Japanese Giant Hornet {Vespa mandarinia japonica} Japan

Wood ants (Formica rufa), Arne RSPB reserve, Dorset, England, UK, September. 2020VISION Book Plate

Garden bumblebee (Bombus hortorum), flying to Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), flower, Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. June

Honeybee (Apis mellifera) flying to Bluebell flowers (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. April

Field cuckoo bumblebee (Bombus campestris) feeding on Goldenrod (Solidago). Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. September

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"Hymenoptera: The Intricate World of Bees, Ants, and Orchids" Delve into the fascinating world of Hymenoptera, a diverse group of insects that includes honey bees (Apis mellifera), leaf cutter ants (Atta sp), and even orchids like Ophrys apifera. Let's start with the industrious honey bees. Apis mellifera is known for its intricate honeycomb structures and remarkable life cycle. From egg to larva to pupa, these tiny creatures undergo a transformation that culminates in their emergence as fully developed bees. Explore an expanded cross-section of their hive and marvel at the insets showcasing their diligent work. Moving on to internal anatomy, get a glimpse inside the body of a Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) through a detailed cross-section. Discover how every organ plays a crucial role in their survival and efficient functioning within the colony. Venturing into Costa Rica's lush landscapes, witness Leaf cutter ants (Atta sp) diligently carrying plant matter back to their nests. These tireless workers demonstrate incredible strength as they transport pieces of leaves across various terrains. Nature never ceases to amaze us with its mimicry; behold the enchanting Ophrys apifera or bee orchid. This beautiful flower has evolved over time to resemble female bees, attracting male counterparts for successful pollination. Zooming in closer, observe Leaf-cutter ants meticulously carrying sections of leaves in stunning detail captured by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Their teamwork and resourcefulness are truly admirable. In Welder Wildlife Refuge at Sinton lies another captivating sight - Apis mellifera buzzing around wild honey cones. Witness this mesmerizing display as these European honey bees feed on ice plant flowers (Sedum spectabile), contributing to nature's delicate balance. A digital composite showcases an impressive line-up of Leaf-cutter ants marching in unison, carrying leaves to their colony.