Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Wasp and pitcher plant (pic)

Posted by Ecooper on 31-07-2013 03:52
#1

A yellow jacket wasp (Vespula vulgaris) trying to feed on the tiny droplets of nectar secreted on the underside of the operculum of a yellow pitcher plant (Sarracenia flava). As you can see the wasp had a very precarious hold on the slippery lip of the plant. You can tell that this wasn’t going to end well…at least not for the wasp. Moments later it slipped and disappeared into the trap.

Cheers,
EC
Blog: http://wp.me/2wM8r


Olympus OM-D E-M5; Zuiko 60mm micro 4/3 macro; manual exposure (F11 @ 1/200 sec); Olympus RF-11 ring flash (1/2 power); 200

farm6.staticflickr.com/5493/9360763459_bcdc44cdab_z.jpg
P8120201 wasp on pitcher plant copyright ernie cooper 2013 by ernie.cooper, on Flickr

Posted by John Carr on 31-07-2013 04:15
#2

Wasp is probably Polistes dominula.

Posted by Ecooper on 02-08-2013 19:49
#3

Thanks John, someone else pointed that out to me too. We have so many yellow jackets around that I just assumed that's what it was. I should know better than to assume...

I've edited my blog.

Thanks again,
EC