European Bee-Eater (Merops apiaster)

The European Bee-Eater (Merops apiaster) belongs to the family Meropidae. It is digging tunnels in bank slopes or sandy scarp slopes with a length up to 1,50m. In dry areas without any scarp slopes, they are digging their holes directly into the soil. The breeding season is between May and July. The Bee-Eater can be found in the Northwest of Africa and the southwest of Europe as well as in the Mediterranean area and East/Southeast Europe. Small insects, such as beetles, hoverflies, dragonflies and of course bees and wasps are its prey. The displayed preparations are from the collection of Ernst Gloyer.