Metallic Bluish-Green Cuckoo Wasp (Chrysis angolensis)

Detailed overview of the Metallic Bluish-Green Cuckoo Wasp (Chrysis angolensis):

🐝 Metallic Bluish-Green Cuckoo Wasp

Scientific name: Chrysis angolensis
Family: Chrysididae (Cuckoo wasps)
Order: Hymenoptera
Common group: Jewel wasps / Cuckoo wasps

🔹 Identification

• Size: Approximately 5–9 mm in length
• Color:
  • Striking metallic blue-green or turquoise exoskeleton
  • Iridescent, with color shifts depending on the angle of light
  • Underside may appear darker or coppery
• Body shape: Compact, segmented body with a sculptured, pitted surface
• Wing: Transparent with a smoky tinge; typical hymenopteran venation
• Behavioral trait: When threatened, can curl into a tight defensive ball (thanatosis)

🔹 Distribution

• Native to: Sub-Saharan Africa
• Introduced/established in:
  • Southern Europe, including Portugal, Spain, and Italy
  • Middle East, Asia, and parts of North Africa
• Spread potentially aided by human trade and environmental changes

🔹 Habitat

• Prefers warm, sunny, dry environments
• Found in:
  • Urban gardens
  • Scrubland
  • Mediterranean habitats
  • Areas where host species are present (especially dry wood structures, bee hotels, sandy soils)

🔹 Biology & Behavior

🌱 Life Strategy

• Kleptoparasitic / Brood parasite – Lays eggs in the nests of solitary wasps and bees (especially from the families Megachilidae and Sphecidae)

🐣 Reproduction

• Female enters the host’s nest and deposits an egg
• Larva hatches and consumes either the host egg/larva or its provisions
• No nest-building of its own – entirely dependent on hosts

☀️ Activity

• Diurnal and strongly thermophilic (active in full sunlight)
• Commonly seen hovering near wooden structures, dead wood, or walls looking for host nests

🔹 Defense Mechanisms

• Metallic armor: Tough exoskeleton resists stings from host insects
• Curls into a ball (thanatosis) when threatened, protecting vulnerable undersides

🔹 Conservation Status

• Not globally threatened
• Population increasing in some regions due to:
  • Spread of its hosts into urban areas
  • Warmer climate aiding its northward expansion

🔹 Similar Species

• Other members of Chrysis genus — many have similar metallic coloring
• Distinguished by:
  • Subtle variations in color, size, wing venation, and abdominal segments
  • Identification often requires microscopy or expert-level examination

🔹 Interesting Facts

• The name “Cuckoo Wasp” reflects its parasitic lifestyle, similar to the cuckoo bird
• The family Chrysididae includes some of the most brilliantly colored insects on Earth
• Its brilliant color is caused by structural coloration, not pigment

📸 Photography Tip

To photograph Chrysis angolensis, focus on:

• Full sun
• Shiny wooden surfaces
• Near bee hotels or wasp burrows
• Use a macro lens to capture its iridescence

### Common Carder Bee (*Bombus pascuorum*) – Overview The **Common Carder Bee** is a widespread species of **bumblebee** found throughout **Europe** and parts of **Asia**. It’s easily recognized by its **gingery-brown fur** and its gentle behavior. As one of the last bumblebees active into autumn, it's a vital late-season pollinator. --- ### **Identification** | Feature | Description | | --------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Size** | Workers: 10–14 mmQueens: 15–18 mmMales: 13–15 mm | | **Color** | Ginger-brown thorax; variable abdomen (tan, brown, or dark bands) | | **Hair** | Fluffy, with a soft and “carded” appearance (hence the name) | | **Face** | Long-tongued; adapted for deep flowers | > Similar species include *Bombus muscorum* and *Bombus humilis*, but *B. pascuorum* is more common in gardens and urban settings. --- ### **Habitat Flowers** * Found in **gardens**, **meadows**, **hedgerows**, **roadsides**, and **urban areas**. * Forages from a wide range of flowers, including: * **Red clover**, **vetch**, **dead-nettle**, **knapweed**, **lavender**, and **borage**. --- ### **Nesting Behavior** * Nests **above ground** in dense grass, moss, or compost heaps. * The queen uses **moss and grass to card and line the nest**, giving the species its name. * Colonies are **relatively small** (50–150 workers). --- ### ♻️ **Life Cycle** 1. **Spring**: Queen emerges and finds a nest site. 2. **Early Summer**: First brood of workers hatches. 3. **Mid–Late Summer**: Male bees and new queens produced. 4. **Autumn**: Males and old queens die; new queens hibernate. --- ### **Fun Facts** * Unlike honeybees, bumblebee colonies **do not survive winter** — only **new queens overwinter**. * One of the **last bumblebee species active into October/November**, depending on the region. * Considered a **key pollinator** in both wild and agricultural ecosystems. --- ### **How to Help Them** * Grow nectar-rich flowers that bloom from spring to autumn. * Avoid using pesticides, especially neonicotinoids. * Leave areas of unmown grass or log piles for potential nesting sites. --- Would you like a comparison between *Bombus pascuorum* and other common bumblebees in your area (e.g., *Bombus terrestris*, *Bombus lapidarius*)?

Western honey bee (Apis mellifera)

Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum)