Wednesday 23 May 2007

It's a wasp, Jim, but not as we know it...

...or is it? Found this blowing down my path today, lovely pinky/lilac paper nest...



I assumed a used wasps nest. I love wasps nests, and had never seen one the colour of lint before so I was very happy with my found treasure. It was only when I got it in the house to take a photo that I realised Elvis had NOT left the building!



I like dainty wasps, the harmless ones that look all French with their dainty waists and black evening wear look. Or even subtle stripes. But I'm not keen on your black and yellow sting-you-for-no-good-reason wasps. Anyone know which this will be?



Should I be excited or scared about putting my eyes close to watch their development? Some have gone, some are all maggotty looking and have munched their 'section' open and some are still sealed in. It's about 4cm wide, 5cm long. Looks like there were 16+ compartments in there, didn't want to tear it to find out for sure. I even got a tiny video clip of them munching! Kind of freaky, but nature really is so intriguing. When you think how we are helpless as babies for years, yet these things are on their own from day one, surviving on intinct. Amazing.

11 comments:

Ursula Achten said...

Hi Cally,
the colour of the paper-nest depends on the kind of wood they munched to build it. Did you already think about hornets?? In any case: that's just the start of a nest. Go and google around, there are lots of pictures..
Oh! I would like to watch that with you!!

Heather Moore said...

So pretty! Beautiful pics too. I must say, I didn't realise that wasps also did the honecomb shape - but I guess it's just a really efficient shape for packing together, so of course they use it!

Anonymous said...

oh wow..your pictures are beautiful..they bring across the delicacy of the paper and i love the pink!! what a find!!! xxx

Susan Schwake said...

i don't know what they are but per ususal, nature makes beauty everywhere.... the elvis reference had me laughing pretty hard ms. c.
;-)
let me know how they "turn out!"

Janet said...

Cally ~ what a great post! I once did a lot of research on paper wasp nests for an exhibition in which we recreated a modern art installation that included African art and ~ among other things ~ a wasps nest. We searched all over for a nest we could use and finally stumbled across a man who was a groundskeeper at a golf course. For years he had been removing them from the trees around the course and had kept them hanging in his garage. Part way through the exhibition, we noticed droppings and realized that there might still be some wasps inside, so we had to temporarily remove the nest and have it fumigrated! All that said, you could have either a paper wasp nest or a hornets nest. There are very similar!

christine ann haynes said...

Wow. Gorgeous photos lovely girl!

It is amazing that they survive on "intinct" alone. *smile*

My v button does not work very well so it is a shocker that I even got that out. I make spelling errors constantly (I think this is your first) but this one made me giggle for some reason. I hope you leae it (leave it even *smile*)

Hugs Hugs Hugs!!

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous pictures as usual. Insects are so fascinating; creepy but fascinating.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the fascinating photos, especially the close-up shot of the comb (I have to say, I'd probably have left it outside though in fear of getting stung)!

Anonymous said...

Cally you take such amazing photos - and opened my mind a little more - I hadn't even thought about what wasps build etc. Nature is truly amazing and beautiful.

shula said...

Definitely not helpless.

These buggers will inherit the Earth.

Hope you're keeping it outside.

Cally said...

Yes, keeping them outside and so far no change, still grubbing about making munchy movements but not turning into anything with a sting yet.

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