Monday, 24 August 2020

The Wasp & the Fly



Back in July we noticed a new pile of sawdust by the raised flower bed. We new from previous years that a type of Ectemnius (solitary wasp) making it's nest there. So I thought I would capture one (an image) with my camera so I set it up on a gorilla pod and attached the remote setting the camera on high frame capture then waited.


This was the only shot I managed of the wasp landing with it's prey which is a fly. In previous years I had seen them flying clutching a fly but getting a shot of one proved very hard even landing. The fly is used as food for the larva when it hatches.




A few minuets after the was went in the next I noticed this fly sniffing around outside





It then went to investigate the opening





and went inside for a look




I did wonder if the wasp would come out and snatch it for it's nest




But now it scurried away before said wasp came out













Out came the wasp





quickly turning on to the side





The the next moment  after I took this it was gone




I think the fly was pushing it's luck because it hung about




Even with the was emerging from it's nest




at times a couple of centimetres apart




Getting ready to fly
The blur is the was flying off. The was is still burrowing in the sleepers and the wood dust has gotten bigger at one stage my wife cleared some away so it could get in the nest. Orthogonally we did try to discourage them nesting but now we leave them to get on with it they don't bother us after all then kill fly's and that can't be bad.
Taking Part in Our World Tuesday


14 comments:

NCSue said...

Fascinating!
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gluten Free A_Z Blog said...

Very interesting photos. We have an invasion of some kind of very large bee in our flower beds- like maybe 12 nests.. yikes

Fun60 said...

An interesting series of photos. I don't like wasps but have to admit their nests are a work of art. We had one in the loft a couple of years ago and had to get a specialist in to remove it along with its residents.

Billy Blue Eyes said...

It was

Billy Blue Eyes said...

Bees are Ok just don't bother them

Billy Blue Eyes said...

Lucky we have not had one in a while though there might be a old one over our porch in the void there we cannot get to. I've found a few golf ball sized nests over the years one in the awning of our caravan

Sharon said...

You captured a lot of insect activity here.

Elkes Lebensglück said...

They're great shots, I've never seen them like that before. If they don't bother you, it's good!

Billy Blue Eyes said...

A lot more photos than that, just amused me wathcing the fly

Billy Blue Eyes said...

We only noticed them when we saw the pile of sawdust a couple of years ago

Linda said...

Wow, drama can be very small!

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

All the things that go on around us that we never notice in normal times.

William Kendall said...

That is pushing luck.

betty-NZ said...

What a cool story in pictures! The fly sure was lucky.

It's great to see you at 'My Corner of the World' this week!! Thanks for being here. A link back would be awesome :)