Dinner won't cooperate!
Aug 24, 2020 21:28:23 #
I was out in a park today birding but the heat drove them under cover. I noticed these two were always piggy-back trying to pull their dinner free. Anyone know what these are?
Aug 24, 2020 21:30:06 #
Aug 24, 2020 21:35:45 #
UTMike wrote:
I have no idea, but good action set, Elliott.
Thanks Mike - they didn't get dinner while I was there but they were determined. I wonder if working "piggy-back" is common to that species?
Aug 24, 2020 21:41:27 #
Aug 24, 2020 23:01:27 #
quixdraw wrote:
Nice sharp set, as to what they were doing...
Much appreciated QD.
Aug 25, 2020 10:40:19 #
Aug 25, 2020 10:41:05 #
Aug 25, 2020 13:18:54 #
Thanks Ken - I'll link this to the macro section hoping that someone there knows what these creatures are.
Aug 25, 2020 13:19:09 #
Aug 25, 2020 13:49:04 #
I don’t think they were interested in food Elliott! 
Excellent set. 
Excellent set. Aug 25, 2020 13:53:05 #
Sylvias wrote:
I don’t think they were interested in food Elliott! Excellent set.
Excellent set. The top one is in line with your thoughts (and everyone else's) but the bottom guy was clearly hungry!
Kinda comical - thanks Sylvia.
Aug 25, 2020 13:57:36 #
ecobin wrote:
The top one is in line with your thoughts (and everyone else's) but the bottom guy was clearly hungry!
Kinda comical - thanks Sylvia.
Kinda comical - thanks Sylvia.
I wonder why!!!
Aug 25, 2020 14:47:29 #
Aug 25, 2020 15:07:07 #
srscary wrote:
Great Black wasp (from Google Lens search)?
https://g.co/kgs/3dv5oq
https://g.co/kgs/3dv5oq
Thanks for the ID and link Ronnie - much appreciated.
Aug 25, 2020 20:51:30 #
This one I happen to know since I just recently came across it. The wasps are a pair of thread-waisted wasps (this species : https://bugguide.net/node/view/1875182/bgimage ), and they had mated. The male is still riding her back, guarding her from getting mated with another male. Male insects often do this to ensure that her eggs are fertilized by him.
Anyway, the female wasp specializes in how she feeds her young. These paralyze caterpillars and bring them to a burrow in the ground. That burrow is already dug somewhere, and she has basically memorized its location even though it can be a fair distance away.
Unfortunately, the caterpillar got hung up, as you see, and she can't figure out how to get it free. Bad luck, really.
That said, these are really nice pictures! And the best part is they tell a pretty dramatic story. Great stuff!
Anyway, the female wasp specializes in how she feeds her young. These paralyze caterpillars and bring them to a burrow in the ground. That burrow is already dug somewhere, and she has basically memorized its location even though it can be a fair distance away.
Unfortunately, the caterpillar got hung up, as you see, and she can't figure out how to get it free. Bad luck, really.
That said, these are really nice pictures! And the best part is they tell a pretty dramatic story. Great stuff!
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