Stinging the Praises of a Sunny Day
New Zealand has some of the highest density of social wasps in the world. Asian paper wasps (pictured above) are only a 'recent' arrival to the country. As late as 1979, probably as a stowaway in goods from Asia. they thrive in warm, sunny backyards (hence the reason I'm seeing more of the little blighters in the warmer days!) they make nests in shrubs and small trees, or even hanging from fencing wire. Their nests are small suspended 'umbrellas' of paper cells. This eco-unfriendly' dines on the caterpillars of the Monarch and copper butterfly, and are blamed for the apparent decline in their numbers.
12 responses
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Sonia Adam Murray gave props (20 Oct 2009):
This is a great triptych and sad story!
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Jack Sills gave props (21 Oct 2009):
Excellent Detail...Wonderul Images!!!
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Yasmina Baggili gave props (21 Oct 2009):
Great image!
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Michael Ball gave props (22 Oct 2009):
Ah to bad they are so unfriendly! Fantastic shots!
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eithne mythen gave props (22 Oct 2009):
Gorgeous shades of green, and great detail on those wasps, excellent..
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Donald Garrett gave props (23 Oct 2009):
Excellent capture and background info! Since we've already had 2 frosts, our wasps and bees are pretty much passe for this year.
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Nelson Campbell gave props (25 Oct 2009):
I find them so fascinating...great info and shot Suzanne!
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Regenia Brabham gave props (26 Oct 2009):
This is a terrific set of macros and a great diptych!
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Christopher J Chalk gave props (27 Oct 2009):
Great stiching and very informative, one day your going to be stung on the tip of your Kiwi nose........LOL
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Deborah Downes gave props (27 Oct 2009):
Super dipstych. Wonderful clarity and details, plus interesting info.
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Litz Go gave props (28 Oct 2009):
hey, you did it! great tripstych!
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Judy Wanamaker gave props (29 Oct 2009):
The lighting in these is so beautiful. Too bad the nasty little wasps eat butterfly larvae. It seems that when new species of anything are added to the environment, the old ones begin to disappear. Here in FL we are having trouble with non native reptiles (esp. constrictor snakes) reducing the population of our swamp dwelling creatures.
