Families Scoliidae, Tiphiidae and Mutillidae
Flower wasps are large solitary wasps, often with bright colours or a metallic appearance. Adult wasps are nectar feeders. They are often seen moving between flowers in mid- to late summer and they play an important role in pollinating native plants.
Many species of flower wasps have wingless females (for example, the Blue Ant). In these species, mating occurs on the wing, with the male wasps carrying the female wasps. Some males actively feed the wingless females or carry them to food plants.
Female wasps dig through the soil to reach beetle larvae and other soil insects. When a grub is located, the wasp lays an egg on it, and the developing wasp larva then eats it. Adult wasps feed on nectar.
The Blue Ant is actually a species of flower wasp in the Family Tiphiidae . The wingless, ground-dwelling females are bright metallic blue or green, and can sometimes be mistaken for a large ant. However they are a solitary wasp species, with fully winged males, and can often be found on flowers.
The female Blue Ant makes a burrow for her eggs and hunts for beetle larvae and other ground dwelling insects, such as mole crickets. She paralyses these with her sting, and lays her eggs on them. When the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on the paralysed insects. Adult Blue Ants feed mainly on nectar.
Female flower wasps are capable of stinging if disturbed. As they are solitary insects, flower wasps do not pose the same level of threat to humans as social species of bees, ants or wasps do. However, unlike bees, wasps can sting more than once, and do not die after stinging. The sting causes a burning pain and swelling. If stings are multiple, a more severe systemic reaction may occur.
In some individuals, wasp, bee and ant stings can cause an allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), but this is relatively uncommon. Effective treatment is available, which involves known bee/ant/wasp sting allergy sufferers carrying a special kit when outdoors. Immunotherapy or desensitisation is also available, and can reduce the severity of the allergy.
A cold pack may be used to relieve the pain of the sting. If there is evidence of a more severe reaction or the sting victim is known to be allergic to wasp and bee venom, medical attention should be sought immediately.
Copyright © Australian Museum, 2003
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