-
wasp digging in ground per photo
-
I assume this is one of the digger wasps, but there are several genera and I'm not sure what it might be....but it was an interesting experience to watch the behavior. I'll post 10 shots to try to explain it all. ericisley and I braved the heat and wandered around Hornsby Bend for a while at mid day. In the middle of an area of prickly pear cactus I saw a black wasp with a red abdomen struggling to drag a dead cricket/locust/grasshopper/katydid across the ground. The wasp was using its wings as well as its legs in a furious effort to drag the dead insect as it was quite a bit larger than the wasp, but was making quite fast progress. The wasp then dropped the insect and walked across the dirt until it found a hole that it had apparently already prepared for the purpose intended. Having re-oriented itself to the location of the hole, the wasp returned to the cricket and drug it down into the hole. There is one quick shot of the cricket disappearing down the hole. The wasp then spent a minute or so inside the hole, then re-emerged and started using its legs to kick dirt into the hole as if to fill it. Every now and then the wasp flew up to a prickly pear pad and went through a grooming process, cleaning its legs, antennae, etc., then returned to filling the hole. Finally the hole was not visible and the wasp flew off. My understanding (and please feel free to correct any mistakes) is that the wasp killed the cricket/katydid, then drug it into the hole, deposited its eggs into or near the dead cricket, then buried the cricket. The larvae will feed off the cricket, then emerge from the ground at a later time. Anyway, it was a treat to watch the process. Any help on the wasp ID will be appreciated. I'll post a record of the cricket as well.
-
I assume this is one of the digger wasps, but there are several genera and I'm not sure what it might be....but it was an interesting experience to watch the behavior. I'll post 10 shots to try to explain it all. ericisley and I braved the heat and wandered around Hornsby Bend for a while at mid day. In the middle of an area of prickly pear cactus I saw a black wasp with a red abdomen struggling to drag a dead cricket/locust/grasshopper/katydid across the ground. The wasp was using its wings as well as its legs in a furious effort to drag the dead insect as it was quite a bit larger than the wasp, but was making quite fast progress. The wasp then dropped the insect and walked across the dirt until it found a hole that it had apparently already prepared for the purpose intended. Having re-oriented itself to the location of the hole, the wasp returned to the cricket and drug it down into the hole. There is one quick shot of the cricket disappearing down the hole. The wasp then spent a minute or so inside the hole, then re-emerged and started using its legs to kick dirt into the hole as if to fill it. Every now and then the wasp flew up to a prickly pear pad and went through a grooming process, cleaning its legs, antennae, etc., then returned to filling the hole. Finally the hole was not visible and the wasp flew off. My understanding (and please feel free to correct any mistakes) is that the wasp killed the cricket/katydid, then drug it into the hole, deposited its eggs into or near the dead cricket, then buried the cricket. The larvae will feed off the cricket, then emerge from the ground at a later time. Anyway, it was a treat to watch the process. Any help on the wasp ID will be appreciated. I'll post a record of the cricket as well.
-
I assume this is one of the digger wasps, but there are several genera and I'm not sure what it might be....but it was an interesting experience to watch the behavior. I'll post 10 shots to try to explain it all. ericisley and I braved the heat and wandered around Hornsby Bend for a while at mid day. In the middle of an area of prickly pear cactus I saw a black wasp with a red abdomen struggling to drag a dead cricket/locust/grasshopper/katydid across the ground. The wasp was using its wings as well as its legs in a furious effort to drag the dead insect as it was quite a bit larger than the wasp, but was making quite fast progress. The wasp then dropped the insect and walked across the dirt until it found a hole that it had apparently already prepared for the purpose intended. Having re-oriented itself to the location of the hole, the wasp returned to the cricket and drug it down into the hole. There is one quick shot of the cricket disappearing down the hole. The wasp then spent a minute or so inside the hole, then re-emerged and started using its legs to kick dirt into the hole as if to fill it. Every now and then the wasp flew up to a prickly pear pad and went through a grooming process, cleaning its legs, antennae, etc., then returned to filling the hole. Finally the hole was not visible and the wasp flew off. My understanding (and please feel free to correct any mistakes) is that the wasp killed the cricket/katydid, then drug it into the hole, deposited its eggs into or near the dead cricket, then buried the cricket. The larvae will feed off the cricket, then emerge from the ground at a later time. Anyway, it was a treat to watch the process. Any help on the wasp ID will be appreciated. I'll post a record of the cricket as well.
-
I assume this is one of the digger wasps, but there are several genera and I'm not sure what it might be....but it was an interesting experience to watch the behavior. I'll post 10 shots to try to explain it all. ericisley and I braved the heat and wandered around Hornsby Bend for a while at mid day. In the middle of an area of prickly pear cactus I saw a black wasp with a red abdomen struggling to drag a dead cricket/locust/grasshopper/katydid across the ground. The wasp was using its wings as well as its legs in a furious effort to drag the dead insect as it was quite a bit larger than the wasp, but was making quite fast progress. The wasp then dropped the insect and walked across the dirt until it found a hole that it had apparently already prepared for the purpose intended. Having re-oriented itself to the location of the hole, the wasp returned to the cricket and drug it down into the hole. There is one quick shot of the cricket disappearing down the hole. The wasp then spent a minute or so inside the hole, then re-emerged and started using its legs to kick dirt into the hole as if to fill it. Every now and then the wasp flew up to a prickly pear pad and went through a grooming process, cleaning its legs, antennae, etc., then returned to filling the hole. Finally the hole was not visible and the wasp flew off. My understanding (and please feel free to correct any mistakes) is that the wasp killed the cricket/katydid, then drug it into the hole, deposited its eggs into or near the dead cricket, then buried the cricket. The larvae will feed off the cricket, then emerge from the ground at a later time. Anyway, it was a treat to watch the process. Any help on the wasp ID will be appreciated. I'll post a record of the cricket as well.
-
I assume this is one of the digger wasps, but there are several genera and I'm not sure what it might be....but it was an interesting experience to watch the behavior. I'll post 10 shots to try to explain it all. ericisley and I braved the heat and wandered around Hornsby Bend for a while at mid day. In the middle of an area of prickly pear cactus I saw a black wasp with a red abdomen struggling to drag a dead cricket/locust/grasshopper/katydid across the ground. The wasp was using its wings as well as its legs in a furious effort to drag the dead insect as it was quite a bit larger than the wasp, but was making quite fast progress. The wasp then dropped the insect and walked across the dirt until it found a hole that it had apparently already prepared for the purpose intended. Having re-oriented itself to the location of the hole, the wasp returned to the cricket and drug it down into the hole. There is one quick shot of the cricket disappearing down the hole. The wasp then spent a minute or so inside the hole, then re-emerged and started using its legs to kick dirt into the hole as if to fill it. Every now and then the wasp flew up to a prickly pear pad and went through a grooming process, cleaning its legs, antennae, etc., then returned to filling the hole. Finally the hole was not visible and the wasp flew off. My understanding (and please feel free to correct any mistakes) is that the wasp killed the cricket/katydid, then drug it into the hole, deposited its eggs into or near the dead cricket, then buried the cricket. The larvae will feed off the cricket, then emerge from the ground at a later time. Anyway, it was a treat to watch the process. Any help on the wasp ID will be appreciated. I'll post a record of the cricket as well.
-
I assume this is one of the digger wasps, but there are several genera and I'm not sure what it might be....but it was an interesting experience to watch the behavior. I'll post 10 shots to try to explain it all. ericisley and I braved the heat and wandered around Hornsby Bend for a while at mid day. In the middle of an area of prickly pear cactus I saw a black wasp with a red abdomen struggling to drag a dead cricket/locust/grasshopper/katydid across the ground. The wasp was using its wings as well as its legs in a furious effort to drag the dead insect as it was quite a bit larger than the wasp, but was making quite fast progress. The wasp then dropped the insect and walked across the dirt until it found a hole that it had apparently already prepared for the purpose intended. Having re-oriented itself to the location of the hole, the wasp returned to the cricket and drug it down into the hole. There is one quick shot of the cricket disappearing down the hole. The wasp then spent a minute or so inside the hole, then re-emerged and started using its legs to kick dirt into the hole as if to fill it. Every now and then the wasp flew up to a prickly pear pad and went through a grooming process, cleaning its legs, antennae, etc., then returned to filling the hole. Finally the hole was not visible and the wasp flew off. My understanding (and please feel free to correct any mistakes) is that the wasp killed the cricket/katydid, then drug it into the hole, deposited its eggs into or near the dead cricket, then buried the cricket. The larvae will feed off the cricket, then emerge from the ground at a later time. Anyway, it was a treat to watch the process. Any help on the wasp ID will be appreciated. I'll post a record of the cricket as well.
-
I assume this is one of the digger wasps, but there are several genera and I'm not sure what it might be....but it was an interesting experience to watch the behavior. I'll post 10 shots to try to explain it all. ericisley and I braved the heat and wandered around Hornsby Bend for a while at mid day. In the middle of an area of prickly pear cactus I saw a black wasp with a red abdomen struggling to drag a dead cricket/locust/grasshopper/katydid across the ground. The wasp was using its wings as well as its legs in a furious effort to drag the dead insect as it was quite a bit larger than the wasp, but was making quite fast progress. The wasp then dropped the insect and walked across the dirt until it found a hole that it had apparently already prepared for the purpose intended. Having re-oriented itself to the location of the hole, the wasp returned to the cricket and drug it down into the hole. There is one quick shot of the cricket disappearing down the hole. The wasp then spent a minute or so inside the hole, then re-emerged and started using its legs to kick dirt into the hole as if to fill it. Every now and then the wasp flew up to a prickly pear pad and went through a grooming process, cleaning its legs, antennae, etc., then returned to filling the hole. Finally the hole was not visible and the wasp flew off. My understanding (and please feel free to correct any mistakes) is that the wasp killed the cricket/katydid, then drug it into the hole, deposited its eggs into or near the dead cricket, then buried the cricket. The larvae will feed off the cricket, then emerge from the ground at a later time. Anyway, it was a treat to watch the process. Any help on the wasp ID will be appreciated. I'll post a record of the cricket as well.
-
I assume this is one of the digger wasps, but there are several genera and I'm not sure what it might be....but it was an interesting experience to watch the behavior. I'll post 10 shots to try to explain it all. ericisley and I braved the heat and wandered around Hornsby Bend for a while at mid day. In the middle of an area of prickly pear cactus I saw a black wasp with a red abdomen struggling to drag a dead cricket/locust/grasshopper/katydid across the ground. The wasp was using its wings as well as its legs in a furious effort to drag the dead insect as it was quite a bit larger than the wasp, but was making quite fast progress. The wasp then dropped the insect and walked across the dirt until it found a hole that it had apparently already prepared for the purpose intended. Having re-oriented itself to the location of the hole, the wasp returned to the cricket and drug it down into the hole. There is one quick shot of the cricket disappearing down the hole. The wasp then spent a minute or so inside the hole, then re-emerged and started using its legs to kick dirt into the hole as if to fill it. Every now and then the wasp flew up to a prickly pear pad and went through a grooming process, cleaning its legs, antennae, etc., then returned to filling the hole. Finally the hole was not visible and the wasp flew off. My understanding (and please feel free to correct any mistakes) is that the wasp killed the cricket/katydid, then drug it into the hole, deposited its eggs into or near the dead cricket, then buried the cricket. The larvae will feed off the cricket, then emerge from the ground at a later time. Anyway, it was a treat to watch the process. Any help on the wasp ID will be appreciated. I'll post a record of the cricket as well.
-
I assume this is one of the digger wasps, but there are several genera and I'm not sure what it might be....but it was an interesting experience to watch the behavior. I'll post 10 shots to try to explain it all. ericisley and I braved the heat and wandered around Hornsby Bend for a while at mid day. In the middle of an area of prickly pear cactus I saw a black wasp with a red abdomen struggling to drag a dead cricket/locust/grasshopper/katydid across the ground. The wasp was using its wings as well as its legs in a furious effort to drag the dead insect as it was quite a bit larger than the wasp, but was making quite fast progress. The wasp then dropped the insect and walked across the dirt until it found a hole that it had apparently already prepared for the purpose intended. Having re-oriented itself to the location of the hole, the wasp returned to the cricket and drug it down into the hole. There is one quick shot of the cricket disappearing down the hole. The wasp then spent a minute or so inside the hole, then re-emerged and started using its legs to kick dirt into the hole as if to fill it. Every now and then the wasp flew up to a prickly pear pad and went through a grooming process, cleaning its legs, antennae, etc., then returned to filling the hole. Finally the hole was not visible and the wasp flew off. My understanding (and please feel free to correct any mistakes) is that the wasp killed the cricket/katydid, then drug it into the hole, deposited its eggs into or near the dead cricket, then buried the cricket. The larvae will feed off the cricket, then emerge from the ground at a later time. Anyway, it was a treat to watch the process. Any help on the wasp ID will be appreciated. I'll post a record of the cricket as well.
-
I assume this is one of the digger wasps, but there are several genera and I'm not sure what it might be....but it was an interesting experience to watch the behavior. I'll post 10 shots to try to explain it all. ericisley and I braved the heat and wandered around Hornsby Bend for a while at mid day. In the middle of an area of prickly pear cactus I saw a black wasp with a red abdomen struggling to drag a dead cricket/locust/grasshopper/katydid across the ground. The wasp was using its wings as well as its legs in a furious effort to drag the dead insect as it was quite a bit larger than the wasp, but was making quite fast progress. The wasp then dropped the insect and walked across the dirt until it found a hole that it had apparently already prepared for the purpose intended. Having re-oriented itself to the location of the hole, the wasp returned to the cricket and drug it down into the hole. There is one quick shot of the cricket disappearing down the hole. The wasp then spent a minute or so inside the hole, then re-emerged and started using its legs to kick dirt into the hole as if to fill it. Every now and then the wasp flew up to a prickly pear pad and went through a grooming process, cleaning its legs, antennae, etc., then returned to filling the hole. Finally the hole was not visible and the wasp flew off. My understanding (and please feel free to correct any mistakes) is that the wasp killed the cricket/katydid, then drug it into the hole, deposited its eggs into or near the dead cricket, then buried the cricket. The larvae will feed off the cricket, then emerge from the ground at a later time. Anyway, it was a treat to watch the process. Any help on the wasp ID will be appreciated. I'll post a record of the cricket as well.
-
San Diego County, California, US
-
San Diego County, California, US
-
San Diego County, California, US
-
Reserva de la Biosfera Barranca de Metztitlán
iNaturalist
Matorral xerófilo
-
Insect on milkweed
-
A whole group of about twenty wasps showed up on the same day and busily entered and departed their burrows in the gravel. The next day there was almost no activity.
-
A whole group of about twenty wasps showed up on the same day and busily entered and departed their burrows in the gravel. The next day there was almost no activity.
-
-
-
Lateral..
-
Lateral..
-
Lateral..
-
Lateral..