Wasp Appreciation: share pics or info

[Pixiebeak]

I've really gotten into pollinators. Providing pollinators pit stop or pathway for migration. Planting native to support. Participating in pollinators counts, bumble bee conservation and more.

I quickly discovered all the pollinating wasp. Was blown away by the diversity and beauty! Became fascinated with them. I never thought I was going to one day be a wasp nerd!

I hope this thread spreads the love , or tolerance, and reduces fear.

I hope you will share your wasp pictures and positive interactions.

Wasps: Victims of an Often Undeserved Reputation - Backyard Ecology

Like many people, I grew up with a healthy…. apprehension (ok, fear) of wasps. And, of course, I’ve seen all the memes on social media vilifying wasps and calling them names that I’m not going to repeat on this podcast. But, those fears and concerns are mostly unfounded and misplaced. Wasps...

www.backyardecology.net

 

[Pixiebeak]

Because likely you will only glance with curiosity once at this thread if I'm lucky ...

I wanted to share this. I have always wanted to see a Summer Tanager! For 14 years I looked for them. They are not seed eaters so arn't going to visit a bird feeder. I planted native shrub and berry trees , with hope as they do snack on berries. Part of the reason I added a pollinators garden was hopes of attracting them as I knew they ate insects primarily. I added a bird bath. I left the back corner of my back yard to go wild. And still no Summer Tsnagers.

When I had moved into my house, my dad gave me a big can of wasp spray and told me to spray all nest around ny house. Despite my love of nature and conservation.....I mindlessly did this for years.

Then in trying to figure out how to see Sumner Tanagers , what places to look, how to attract them. I read this .

Summer Tanager Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

The only completely red bird in North America, the strawberry-colored male Summer Tanager is an eye-catching sight against the green leaves of the forest canopy. The mustard-yellow female is harder to spot, though both sexes have a very distinctive chuckling call note. Fairly common during the...

www.allaboutbirds.org

.

Except:
"The Summer Tanager is a bee and wasp specialist. It catches these insects in flight and kills them by beating them against a branch. Before eating a bee, the tanager rubs it on the branch to remove the stinger"

When I had bought my house, my dad gave me a big can of wasp spray and told me to spray all nest. For years I had mindlessly done this.

 

[Pixiebeak]

Oops not enough editing time.

So I stopped killing wasps!

Summer Tanagers showed up!!! After 14 years of wanting to see them!!! They even moved in and started raising young in my backyard!!!!!!!

Bonus American Red Starts also showed up!! Id never heard about these beautiful butterfly like bird before! The way they flutter and display is amazing! They are also insect eating specialist especially the flying insects like wasps and dragonflies.

 

[Pixiebeak]

Now some wasp pictures
I found this rare little wasp visiting flowers. But it is so tiny and quick i couldn't get good pictures. So I caught it for pictures. Found out it preys on roaches! Love that

A very beautiful wasp that had been visiting my Simpson stopper bush flowers. Unknown, hadn't been identified on I Naturalist yet.

American sand wasp. Love the big green eyes

Then I discovered gall wasps! Fascinating lifestyle. Adults are hard to spot, they are very tiny , ant or fruitful sized. But the galls they induce in trees are easy to find. I found a rare gall and was asked to collect the gall and raise the wasp for verification and adult pictures.

I was successful, and the adult was sent to Mexico to entomologist specialist !
Then I discovered a brand new to science species of oak gall wasp!! I was asked to raise and sent specimens to an American gall wasp expert, then on to Supreme specialist in Mexico! I was even interviewed by New York Times reporter!!! I couldn't get very good Pictures as it's fruit fly sized.

 

[Pixiebeak]

Male Summer Tanager! Terrible pic. Taking a bath after all its wasp hunting

 

[Pixiebeak]

I Naturalist a great way to learn and identify wasps. Or any critters plants as part of our natural world. Helps scientists and researchers too.
iNaturalist

iNaturalist

iNaturalist is a social network for naturalists! Record your observations of plants and animals, share them with friends and researchers, and learn about the natural world.

www.inaturalist.org