"The insect world is full of species of parasitic wasps that spend their infancy eating other insects alive. And for reasons that scientists don’t fully understand, they have repeatedly adopted and tamed wild, disease-causing viruses and turned them into biological weapons. Half a dozen examples already are described, and new research hints at many more."
If you love wasps or want to learn to love wasps, my free zine "to love a wasp" is full of facts about how wasps help us with balancing ecosystems, pollination, and plenty more wasp propaganda. There's a digital version and a version that you can print and fold yourself.
This is black-and-yellow mud dauber wasp (Sceliphron caementarium seems likely though that relies on an ID app). I noticed them for the 1st time two years ago when I started my garden. I'd go out and water and they'd come down to gather the new mud. Had to be careful not to dowse them while I watered. Haven't photographed them gathering mud yet but hopefully this year.
(08/11/23)
⚠️ In another porch: keep your distance. While the Jataí #bees are docile, these completely wild #wasps will attack if disturbed.
I cannot name the species. Does anyone know? This is the far west of #SantaCatarina, southern #Brazil.
🇧🇷 Em outra área externa: daqui sim é bom manter distância. Enquanto as #abelhinhas jataí são dóceis, esses marimbondos totalmente selvagens atacarão se peturbados. Não sei apontar qual é a espécie. Alguém sabe? Extremo #OesteCatarinense#Brasil.
Cuckoo wasp standing on a flower
Sherif Abdallah Ahmed
Tanta University, Egypt.
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4X (Objective Lens Magnification)
They look nice enough, they even have reduced stingers. Though that’s because they don’t need to defend a nest like other wasps. Their strategy revolves around parasitizing the nests of other solitary insects. #wasps#insects#nature#microscopy#biology#ecology#photo#wildlife
Strange facehugger-type growths on the acorns of a native oak. These are galls produced by the larvae of the knopper wasp, one of 30 types of gall wasp which are known to lay their eggs on oaks in the UK. #Insects#Wasps#Entomology.