WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Widespread and fairly frequent throughout the UK. Habitat includes: Anywhere with Bumblebees including hedgerows, woodland rides, meadows, scrub, gardens, churchyards, parks, allotments etc. flight period: May to September. Length: 8 - 13 mm. Life story: Females pounce on worker Bumblebees and inject an egg into the bee abdomen using the specialised ovipositor. Hosts include: Bombus terrestris, B. pascuorum, B. hortorum, B. lapidarius. There are also foreign records for Andrena, Dasypoda bees, Vespula wasps. Diet: Nectar and pollen from a variety of flowers including: Ragworts, Thistles, Knapweeds, Scabious's, Marjoram, Bramble.