Are These Bee Wolf Wasps.

[Millet]

I have been watching them today catching and jumping on flies and instantly stinging them multiple times while holding them by the neck in there mandibles, there are on the same spot as last year but the numbers have doubled from last year and some of the wasp nests in the sandy soil have around five holes some hidden among the plants roots.
Here is several pictures.

 

[Swarm]

Sounds like you've been having some fun.

 

[Millet]

Sounds like you've been having some fun.

Be-wolfs do you recon taking a easier option. ?

 

[Blunt Spike]

I would say they are a type of solitary wasp.

 

[Millet]

I would say they are a type of solitary wasp.

Same here BUT are they Bee wolves .. ?

 

[Blunt Spike]

Im not certain after looking at various photographs. Plus I thought Bee wolf was a Scandanavian legend??

 

[Beefriendly]

Could well be...this is a picture of bee wolf from RSPB site, look very similar to your pictures but lacking yellow on thorax. As blunt spike says they are almost certainly solitary wasps. Worth contacting a local wildlife organization as previously only reported as far north as Dalby Forest near Pickering.

 

[Swarm]

Im not certain after looking at various photographs. Plus I thought Bee wolf was a Scandanavian legend??

Beowulf?
...'One, two, one, two and through and through, the Vorpal blade went snicker snack. He left it dead and with its head he went gallumphing back'...
... and the Jabberwocky.

 

[Millet]

Could well be...this is a picture of bee wolf from RSPB site, look very similar to your pictures but lacking yellow on thorax. As blunt spike says they are almost certainly solitary wasps. Worth contacting a local wildlife organization as previously only reported as far north as Dalby Forest near Pickering.

I give One a live fly today like feeding a dog/cat a treat, it was unbelievable how Quick they are pounce and sting instantly within a micro second, if they do this to bees we need to keep them on the radar if they are in good numbers like here, if i see one single be taken into there nests they will be no more, the odd one i will leave alone but we have around 20+ per flower bed.

 

[Anduril]

More pictures http://www.bwars.com/wasp/crabronidae/philanthinae/philanthus-triangulum

 

[Bee Bumble]

Yes. lucky you, leave them alone - they are beautiful and will not significantly affect the numbers of bees in your hives.

 

[Curley]

Hi Steve

Looks more like one of these - field digger-wasp - still cool though

http://www.bwars.com/content/beginners-bees-wasps-mellinus-arvensis

 

[pargyle]

Hi Steve

Looks more like one of these - field digger-wasp - still cool though

http://www.bwars.com/content/beginners-bees-wasps-mellinus-arvensis

Yep ... I reckon you are on the money with this one - used to see quite lot of these when visiting the new forest - they like really sandy soils and are quite common but still a beautiful insect. Millet I doubt they will be of any major concern to your bees even in the numbers you are describing.

 

[Millet]

Hi Steve

Looks more like one of these - field digger-wasp - still cool though

http://www.bwars.com/content/beginners-bees-wasps-mellinus-arvensis

Thanks for the link that is the one , i have had a read of it and i have seen a lot of smaller ones about which i now know are males from the link, i can now safely say that they have been taken of death row.. lol.

 

[masterBK]

Curley is right it is a field digger wasp (probably Mellinus arvensis). I have some living in my garden.