Caterpillar Bees: How they Protect and Live?

Caterpillar bees are small, hairy insects with a long proboscis and a body covered in bristles. They have two pairs of wings, which they use to fly short distances. The males do not have wings, but the females carry eggs on their back until they hatch.

Caterpillars eat leaves or other plant material, so they need to be able to move quickly from one place to another. This is why caterpillar bees can only fly for short distances. Their bodies also contain an enzyme that helps them digest food. When they find a suitable spot to pupate, the female lays her eggs inside it.

She then covers the eggs with silk and seals them off by spinning a cocoon around them. After about three weeks, the larvae emerge as adults. These tiny creatures live in colonies, where each bee has its own home. Each colony contains several thousand individuals.

In some species, there may be more than 100,000 members. The queen lives at the centre of the nest, while the workers collect pollen and nectar and feed the larvae. Some species build nests out of mud or sand, while others make their homes in hollow trees or under rocks.

Most species are found in tropical regions, although some occur in temperate areas too. There are over 1,500 different kinds of caterpillar bee worldwide. Many of these are threatened because they live in places where humans want to develop.

For example, many species live near roads, so people often cut down trees along the sides of the road. As well as being eaten by birds and mammals, caterpillar bees are sometimes caught up in traps set for wasps and hornets.

One type of trap consists of a box containing a honey solution. A hole in the lid allows the insect to enter, but once inside, it cannot get out again. The bees try to escape by flying upwards, but this causes them to drown in the honey solution.

Another kind of trap uses a sticky substance called glue. It is usually made from tree sap, and when the insect lands on it, it sticks to the surface. If the insect tries to climb away, it gets stuck to the glue and dies.

The most famous caterpillar bee is the African giant sweat bee (lion bee). This large bee has a wingspan of almost 10 centimetres (4 inches) and weighs nearly half a gram (0.2 oz). Its name comes from the fact that it produces a strong smell when disturbed.

The lion bee is native to Africa, but it has been introduced into parts of Asia and Australia. It is now widespread throughout much of the world.

Another type of caterpillar bee is the Asian giant sweat bee (megachile), which is even larger than the African version. Like all sweat bees, it has a very powerful sting. The megachile’s range extends across southern Europe, North America and Japan.

There are many types of caterpillar bee in South America, including the Andean giant sweat bee (megachaeta), the black-faced giant sweat bee (megapomponia) and the white-faced giant sweat bee(megachalca). All of these are native to South America.

In Australia, there are four species of caterpillar bee: the Australian giant sweat bee (Megachile pluto), the red-tailed giant sweat bee (Megalopta genalis), the yellow-footed giant sweat bee (M. luteola) and the yellow-spotted giant sweat bee (Mesochaetia xanthopygata).

The first two have long tails, whereas the last two do not. The yellow-spotted giant sweeper bee is also known as the “yellow-banded” or “yellow-legged” giant sweeper bee.

In New Zealand, there are three species of caterpillar bee, the largest being the giant sweat bee (M. pluto) with a wingspan of up to 20mm. It can be distinguished from other species by its large size and bright orange colouration on its abdomen.