Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Bees ID and behavior interpretation

Posted by Rui Andrade on 14-05-2008 00:05
#1

Can anyone explain me what this red-abdomen bee was doing? I saw it digging through the hole and next to it there were two dying bees of a different species. Why was it forcing the entrance of the nest while killing the nest's owners?
I also noticed small parasites on the invading bee, what are they?

location: Barcelos, Portugal
date: 11/05/2008

img155.imageshack.us/img155/8296/bee1iw6.jpg

img404.imageshack.us/img404/7757/bee2zt5.jpg

img155.imageshack.us/img155/7172/bee3jb6.jpg

img155.imageshack.us/img155/3687/bee4tj3.jpg