Two species of mantidflies
Nov 19, 2018 20:09:54 #
Holy 5-Star Images..! These are magnificent in every way imaginable. I'm never seen one of these before so thanks for sharing yours for they will surely be on my bucket-list of 'must finds' now.
Nov 19, 2018 22:22:57 #
Screamin Scott wrote:
I always see wasps looking for prey when I'm out looking for subjects. I have also found lots of caterpillars outside of what I had always assumed was a Carpenter bee's nest in my fence. Maybe it was a wasp nest, although I normally see them elsewhere depending on species...
Carpenter bees, at least the large, common one, chew 10-12mm holes in wood. These are provisioned.with pollen and a crude honey. I believe bees in general are vegetarian, while wasps have many lifestyles, the are mostly carnivores. Paper wasps in particular. When you see paper wasps on wood, they are probably collecting nest material. In your garden, leave them be. As Mark said, they exert pressure on other insects. They love caterpillars, cabbage butterfly and cutworms. Yummy.
Bill
Nov 21, 2018 19:23:49 #
Nov 23, 2018 11:33:02 #
In all my years of taking pictures (started at age 15 and am now 81), I loved macro photos but never came close to what you have captured here. I have never even seen one of these crazy-looking critters. You did a super job with all the different perspectives. Kudos!!!!!
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