Faces only a mother could love - Woodwasps

[svalley]

The Siricid adults have a pretty ferocious set of mandibles that they use to bore their way out of the tree. They are not known to feed as adults.



Sirex juvencus californicus female



Sirex noctilio female. This species is an invader from Europe that was first found in New York several years ago. It has now been detected in Pennsylvania and Ontario and appears to be spreading. It attacks and kills healthy conifers. It caused wide spread damage to pine forests in Australia, New Zealand and Brazil where it was accidentally introduced.



Urocerus californicus female

Leica MZ16 stereomicroscope w/extended depth of field imaging system
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"You can't build a time machine without weird optics"
Steve Valley - Albany, Oregon

[Bruce Williams]

Simply breathtaking photographs Steve! As far as I can see they are about as good as as they could be - particularly considering the highly reflective nature of the subject.

Interestingly, looking at pic3 the mandibles don't appear to be the same "design" left and right - or is that just the angle of the photo?

Bruce

[beetleman]

Simply fantastic Steve. The lighting is great and everything looks so 3D.
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Take Nothing but Pictures--Leave Nothing but Footprints.
Doug Breda

[svalley]

Thanks for your kind comments, guys.

Bruce, I had not noticed that before. I think it is mainly because the mandible on the right (in the image) is open a little more, but it could be that they do not actually mesh perfectly.
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"You can't build a time machine without weird optics"
Steve Valley - Albany, Oregon