I found this Thread Waisted Wasp in my next door neighbor's yard. It didn't stay on the plant long before it flew to the ground and landed approximately nine feet away onto the dirt. I followed it and began taking photos while crouched down, for what felt like an hour. I wasn't about to sit on the dirt because I was afraid something might end up crawling on me. You should have seen me trying to stand up after this. I had a hell of a time.
This is the Eremnophila aureonotata species. It got its name because of it's incredibly thin waist. In the U.S. you will find these wasps from July through September. Adults feed on nectar and they especially like Queen Anne's Lace, Asters, Goldenrods and Horsemint. Adults also feed on body fluids of their prey.
These wasps are solitary and mating is usually done in the summer. Females build underground burrows for their nest, where there is little or no vegetation.
After she lays her fertilized eggs, she will hunt for larvae food...a plump caterpillar. She stings to paralyze the caterpillar; not to kill it because she wants the caterpillar to stay fresh for her babies.
She then drags the paralyzed caterpillar into her nest with her strong jaws and places it next to her eggs. Afterwards, she covers the entrance to her nest with dirt, debris and rocks and flies away; never to return again. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae will feed on the caterpillar until they pupate. When they emerge from the burrow, they are winged adults.
I lost count of how many photos I took trying to capture her going down the hole and exiting the hole. I had so many photos of just the nest with no wasp. I watched this thin waisted wasp go back and forth with a mouthful at least a dozen times. My legs were killing me so it was time to leave. It took me another 10 minutes to get to a standing position, probably because I am an old-timer...remember? Oh, the things we do to get photos for our blogs. I sure wish I had a video of this one.
Information Source: bugguide.net, insectidentification.org
Image Source: 100% own work.
Nice job. Check out my latest spider post. Did I get this beauty right? Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Thanks! I just replied. So happy that you got to see an Orb Weaver in person. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours also! : )
Great shots @whatisnew ❤
I wonder about the fresh looking pile of dirt she
is using, did it come out of the hole?
My legs felt the same way taking pictures of
mushrooms lol
Thanks! I have no idea where that pile of dirt came from. At the time I thought it was an ant hill. She may have made that pile of dirt digging the hole; it was already there so I didn't see her do it. Oh, our poor aching legs. : )
Wow... I love how you narrate everything through your post with those awesome pictures!!! ^^ I don't know much about insects, but I'm learning through your post and other insect photography posts... Steemit is amazing! hihihi ^^
Thank you for the nice compliment @tegoshei! Steemit is amazing. So many talented and knowledgable people and so much to learn.
You're welcome.. And yeah.. That's really true!! It's an amazing place with lots of amazing people! ^^