Aussie Wasp

Images of undisturbed subjects in their natural environment. All subject types.

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MarkB1
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Aussie Wasp

Post by MarkB1 »

Image

rjlittlefield
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Post by rjlittlefield »

Interesting postures -- one apparently very passive, the other active. What are these wasps doing?

--Rik

Planapo
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Post by Planapo »

These wasps look great! More Aussie insects, please! :wink: :D

Yeah, the one with the wings tucked under the metasoma looks passive, our wasp queens do that while hibernating.

--Betty

MarkB1
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Post by MarkB1 »

I have noticed one wasp sometimes inspects another when it arrives back at the hive, occasionally aggression is apparent. Don't know why. Here's one gripping another by the wing.

Image

Harold Gough
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Post by Harold Gough »

MarkB1 wrote:I have noticed one wasp sometimes inspects another when it arrives back at the hive, occasionally aggression is apparent.
With honey bees the guard bees check the scent of returning foragers. Ones not smelling right may be rejected and this can be a problem when some are contaminated with fresh pesticide. The behaviour in not very efficient and 'drifting' occurs, with foragers joining adjacent colonies, possibly taiking diseases or parasites with them. It is mainly a behaviour to prevent robbing, when hundreds of bees from a strong colony may enter a weak one and take away their stored honey.

Harold
My images are a medium for sharing some of my experiences: they are not me.

MarkB1
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Post by MarkB1 »

Thanks Harold, that's interesting.

dmillard
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Post by dmillard »

Very nice images!

David

MarkB1
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Post by MarkB1 »

dmillard wrote:Very nice images!

David
Thanks David

Dalantech
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Post by Dalantech »

Well done Mark! Love the light and the composition here!

I know that sometimes insects will inspect each other for parasites, but I'm not sure if that's what's happening in your image of one wasp holding the other.

MarkB1
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Post by MarkB1 »

Dalantech wrote:Well done Mark! Love the light and the composition here!

I know that sometimes insects will inspect each other for parasites, but I'm not sure if that's what's happening in your image of one wasp holding the other.
Thanks John. There was some very aggressive policing of this nest with workers taking a submissive attitude, reminds me of those human creatures.

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