A wasp gets a caterpillar

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

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MarkSturtevant
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A wasp gets a caterpillar

Post by MarkSturtevant »

I've been visiting a new park that has interesting habitats (carnivorous plants, and apparently a species of rattlesnake). Near a lake shore there is a large area of coarse sand, and in the late summer this area gets very busy with solitary wasps of various kinds. Here is our largest thread-waisted wasp (Ammophila procera) hauling a caterpillar over some obstacles. I think the prey is a walnut caterpillar (Datana integerrima). She had managed to get it hopelessly stuck between a rock and a hard place, so I freed it for her. She immediately snatched back her prize from my hand, and this picture came shortly after.
ImageThread-waisted wasp by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

Her burrow entrance was nearby, although concealed with a sand plug. She put down the caterpillar, opened the burrow, and then she dragged the caterpillar inside. This picture was taken in great haste since I was not quite ready.
ThreadWaistedw.jpg
Inside the burrow, she would place the caterpillar in one of several chambers and lay an egg on it. Her young will have live meat to dine on. Here she has re-appeared and is filling in the burrow entrance again. She soon flew off to repeat the entire process.
ImageThread-waisted wasp by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

Thanks for looking!
Mark Sturtevant
Dept. of Still Waters

AlP
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Joined: Fri Oct 08, 2021 5:48 pm
Location: Alberta, Canada

Re: A wasp gets a caterpillar

Post by AlP »

Nice series.

Doppler9000
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Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2011 3:56 pm

Re: A wasp gets a caterpillar

Post by Doppler9000 »

Wonderful series.

Sean
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Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2021 6:08 am
Location: United Kingdom

Re: A wasp gets a caterpillar

Post by Sean »

Exellent photo's thank you, isnt life amazing?

Peter Maihoefer
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Joined: Thu May 20, 2021 5:35 am
Location: Southern part of Germany

Re: A wasp gets a caterpillar

Post by Peter Maihoefer »

very good wasp pictures and explanation

Dalantech
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Joined: Sun Aug 03, 2008 6:57 am

Re: A wasp gets a caterpillar

Post by Dalantech »

Excellent behavioral set!

zook
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Joined: Wed Feb 28, 2018 3:08 pm
Location: zemun/serbia/milky way

Re: A wasp gets a caterpillar

Post by zook »

great series!

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