[VovTortki]

There was an interesting thread over at the ol' Scribbly about paper wasps that got me most interested because this year I've had the opportunity to observe three nests on the side of my little cabin from the time of construction to present (nests are going off now, swarming!).

I took this photo last year when wasps first decided to build a nest next to my gas bottle (attached nest to chain that secures bottle to wall).



It now looks like this



I noticed something else today, I think there may be a possibility wasps lay a second brood in empty cells of an existing nest (are they eggs in three of the four uncapped cells)? There is also a well developed larvae in cell top left. This nest is behind some lattice-work on the outside of my verandah. I can't show it all it one photo, but the top of the nest hidden in darkness was absolutely teaming with wasps, two layers deep and climbing all over each other.





Nice to learn that despite their reputation, they're pretty placid if you give them a bit of respect. I'm happy to get within inches now (hands and camera) and whilst they do check me out, they are yet to bother about me.

Other thing I've learned from my observations is they build their nests with a north-facing aspect (anyone want to check out their own wasp nests and let me know if this is correct?).

[dittygari]

Great photos! Glad you have placid ones ... last two lowish nests I walked past ,unknowing, I received multiple stings for my trouble

they do like like eggs in those cells - well spotted!

what happens when you need to change gas bottle over???

[VovTortki]

they do like like eggs in those cells - well spotted!

Was only something i noticed when looking at photo, my eyes aren't that good any more, and I wasn't going in for a detailed look at the time.

Same as "grubs" in this one (they must leave cell open and feed larvae for a while, then cap it off while new wasp develops/transforms).

[dittygari]

same as "grubs" in this one wow!! :d

[VovTortki]

wow!! :d

Great thing about cameras and zoom and stuff... No way I'd have ever seen that otherwise!

[VovTortki]

I'm interested to figure out if they are eggs and if those cells get re-used (Early April, colder stuff isn't too far away and those first lot took several months to brew).

[Rounteetepehryn]

Why wouldn't the cells get re-used?

And as the cells are capped with silk, rather than paper, I would suggest it is the larvae rather than the wasps that "cap them off" for the pupae stage.

[VovTortki]

And as the cells are capped with silk, rather than paper, I would suggest it is the larvae rather than the wasps that "cap them off" for the pupae stage.

Ahh, there's an angle I'd not even considered. I reckon you may well be right.

*goes off to search for information*

[VovTortki]

Yep, I see I was mistaken. I don't know why I assumed it was adult that capped cell.

[Rounteetepehryn]

Yep, I see I was mistaken. I don't know why I assumed it was adult that capped cell.

Common and easy assumption - adult insects do not produce silk. I only came to that realisation a couple of years ago when I photographed green ants building a nest, and noticed the adults were using the pupae as a silk-gun.

[Evoncalabbalo]

Great thing about cameras and zoom and stuff... No way I'd have ever seen that otherwise!

I couldn't agree more.
I used to hear / read (and think, too, sometimes) that people with cameras ought to look at the world without them sometimes (as if they never did!)
But now I know that I see more, even when I dont have the camera to the ready, than I did before I became interested in recording what is around me.

Great pics; great info, what more could we want?

[Rounteetepehryn]

BTW, here is the photo of an ant using child slave labour to build a nest:


Tree_Ant_04 by dark orange, on Flickr

[GeraldCortis]

As always, it is of great fascination to me to hear of the observations of others.

thanks scribblers.

[dittygari]

Love learning new stuff!
One of my reasons for doing close up/macro is so that I can see the insects etc ..and wonder at them /learn more about them.

[VovTortki]

Well I conducted one experiment today and got the answer I was sort of seeking (exactly how painful are these wasp stings?)...

The photo in my OP for this thread was taken right next to my shed where I have my washing machine. I got a hole in the out-flow pipe from the machine and decided that it needed replacing, so at lunchtime today I thought to do just that, as well as plumb new hose into sewer-pipe (the very lowest part of sewer vent pipe where it goes into above-ground part of sewer pipe that comes out of my wall before disappearing underground).

One part of the hose that came out of shed wall had a hard plastic clip around it to hold shape and offer some protection to the hose. This had been held onto old hose by some electrical tape which I had to cut off with my pocket-knife. Just as I was in the process off cutting the hose, a wasp zapped me on inside of forearm just below elbow. I instantly reacted by putting other hand to the site of the sting, but while forgetting I had a sharp object in that hand... Nice five inch gash down inside of arm, thankfully not deep enough to require stitching, but enough to open it up 2-3mm in a way that wouldn't close properly. A few butterfly-closures seem to have done the trick. Going to have an nice little scar to add to my ever-growing collection. (The wasp sting is the piddly little red spot lower right of pic.).

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7224/7...e2dbc1b4_n.jpg

BTW, the wasp sting 'urt like hell for all of 30 seconds and then the pain just disappeared. Had a bit of a lump and redness for a bit, but even that's gone now.

More respect is all that's required from myself, still convinced these things are rather placid and I'm happy to leave nests in place.

[Rounteetepehryn]

Sorry to say woolly, you had us in stitches with that description and the photo of the layers of band-aids. We do hope it is not giving you any pain, as we would really feel bad at laughing at the misfortunes of others.

[simmons latex mattress]

*wipes tears from eye*

Oh Woolley I do hope you are ok but thank you for my rather hearty laugh this afternoon

[Biradallo]

I'd laugh too, but I'm not that cruel.


Hope you're OK.
















Actually, I did laugh a bit.

[VovTortki]

. We do hope it is not giving you any pain, as we would really feel bad at laughing at the misfortunes of others.

Yeah, right...


(It's only funny until someone loses an eye; then it becomes hilarious...)

[Evoncalabbalo]

Sorry to say woolly, you had us in stitches with that description and the photo of the layers of band-aids. We do hope it is not giving you any pain, as we would really feel bad at laughing at the misfortunes of others.

I confess to having stifled a laugh at the first aid ... I thought better of me than that.
sorryy woollybutt.
;p