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April 08, 2005
Friday Creature
I spent a while trying to get a good photo of this guy a few weeks ago and the whole time we were interacting, I kept telling myself that it was just a dirt dauber, so it wouldn't sting me. We parted on good terms, but I'm not so sure that it is a dirt dauber... does anyone know?
Anyway, happy Friday! Check out the creatures at the ark, and have a wonderful weekend!
Posted by alice at April 8, 2005 10:12 AM
Comments
I thought it was called a mud dauber?
Posted by: JosiahQ at April 8, 2005 11:04 AM
I know it's not one of the blue mud daubers I'm familiar with; but it's not the very common paper wasp I thought it was at first glance. I do think it's closer to the paper wasp variety, and therefore it might indeed sting you. Also, I'm not 100% certain wasps work the same way as honeybees, but chances are that this is a *gal*.
Great shot.
Posted by: joe at April 8, 2005 11:04 AM
You've got a great eye and hand to capture this one. I think yours deserve more attention. Look at www.eyeofscience.de for some great shots of nature.
Posted by: bailes at April 8, 2005 01:44 PM
I agree w/Joe - it's most likely a female. Great shot, Alice!
Posted by: Sravana at April 10, 2005 09:38 PM
Thanks for the kind words! Why female?
Posted by: alice at April 10, 2005 11:00 PM
Most wasps/hornets/bees die over the winter, but fertilized queens burrow or somehow otherwise stay over, and they are the ones buzzing around everywhere this time of year, looking to build nests, lay their eggs, and start the annual colony. Not only that, but males are in quite the minority in most social wasp/bee colonies. In honeybees, the "worker bees" are all technically female, though sterile; and the "drones" are the males; and there is one active queen per hive (a select few females are nurtured to become queens and go make their own hives). You might have 60,000 workers, 150 drones, and one queen; that's 60,001:150 F/M!
Wasps vary a lot, but leaving aside the solitary types, I think the idea is pretty similar. (Solitary wasps are female, too, as the males are often eaten after mating, à la some spiders and mantids.)
Posted by: joe at April 11, 2005 07:26 AM
I came upon your site when I was cruising the blogs and I love your photography. You have a beautiful eye for color and fowl. thanks for sharing and I will now check out your friday creature issues on a regular basis.
Posted by: jami at April 12, 2005 01:25 PM
It's a paper wasp - Polistes sp. - which builds its nest from chewed wood instead of mud.You'll see her nest as a papier mache honeycomb under the eaves of your house this summer
Posted by: Ron Dass at April 16, 2005 10:29 AM