What's Eating Your Collection?

Adult Bumblebee

Note there are hundreds of species of bees, wasps and hoverflies. None of these are museum pest insects.

Size: 15mm - 20mm

Shape: Round

Colour: Generally striped, colour varies between black, brown, buff, orange and yellow depending on species

Antennae: Short

Distinguishing features: Bees and wasps have four wings, hoverflies have two. Stripes.

Larvae are pests of: Nothing

Damage: None

Bees and hoverflies predominately eat pollen, wasps are predatory. 

Often found on: On windowsills.

None of these insects are pests, but their dead bodies can provide food for insect pests.