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  1. #1
    DF VIP Member Bilbo_baggin's Avatar
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    Photos Ruby-tailed Wasp in her nest hole...

    Six photo's from watching and trying to capture in focus photos of the ruby-tailed wasp (well, 5, cos one is the male that came to check on her). These ruby-tailed wasps are rarely still even for a half a second, but what amazed me watching and snapping away at this female, was that after checking loads of possible holes out (rawl plugs even!) in the brickwork, when she found the one she wanted, she actually reversed her body into the hole so that once inside, she would be facing the exit. The hole she is in must be considerably less thank an inch deep, but that means she is safe enough. The male in the fifth photo actually found her after about 30 seconds and did move into the same hole as she was in - I don't know if he was checking her out for safety or delivering food or just sounding out where he has to go to copulate when they are ready.















    Paul.
    Last edited by Bilbo_baggin; 5th June 2014 at 07:48 PM.

    7 Thanks given to Bilbo_baggin

    akimba (5th June 2014),  chesser (6th June 2014),  elephantsoup (5th June 2014),  H4ss4n (5th June 2014),  Mr Olympia (6th June 2014),  supraman54 (5th June 2014),  WRATH OF BOD (6th June 2014)  


  2. #2
    DF VIP Member akimba's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ruby-tailed Wasp in her nest hole...

    Hope its not ur wall, my friend had a bee's nest inside the cavity wall, and the bee's were in and out thru a little hole like that ;-)

    Thanks to akimba

    Bilbo_baggin (5th June 2014)  


  3. #3
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    Default Re: Ruby-tailed Wasp in her nest hole...

    Excellent.. is you lens IS? mine isn't but the 100mm IS 2.8 L was so bloody expensive I went for the non-L, non-IS one.. problem is my hands are not as steady as the used to be.

    Still great glass though

    supe
    http://www.speedtest.net/result/2920820230.png

    Thanks to supraman54

    Bilbo_baggin (5th June 2014)  


  4. #4
    DF VIP Member Bilbo_baggin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ruby-tailed Wasp in her nest hole...

    Quote Originally Posted by akimba View Post
    Hope its not ur wall, my friend had a bee's nest inside the cavity wall, and the bee's were in and out thru a little hole like that ;-)

    These insects do not live in colonies like Honey Bees; instead the female builds a nest by herself, stocks it with pollen and lays an egg within each cell she has created. However, the adults of the Ruby-tailed Wasp are a little lazier: the females actually lay their eggs in the nests of other solitary bees and wasps, especially Mason Bees. When the eggs hatch, they eat the larvae of the Mason Bees and develop - this gives the Ruby-tailed Wasp its other name of 'Cuckoo Wasp'.

    I assume she is using this as a nest hole in the way she might use a mason bee nest had she found one.


    Paul.

  5. #5
    DF VIP Member Bilbo_baggin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ruby-tailed Wasp in her nest hole...

    Quote Originally Posted by supraman54 View Post
    Excellent.. is you lens IS? mine isn't but the 100mm IS 2.8 L was so bloody expensive I went for the non-L, non-IS one.. problem is my hands are not as steady as the used to be.

    Still great glass though

    supe
    It's a wall on the outhouse in the garden Supe. But as above, these wasps cause no harm.

    My lens is the same as yours, non-L, not IS either. I use a tripod 99% of the time, the 1% otherwise is usually on a beanbag or leaning against a wall or tree branch etc.

    Paul.

  6. #6
    DF VIP Member dpSparhawk's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ruby-tailed Wasp in her nest hole...

    Ingenious use of a rawlplug there.

    Great shots mate. I'm envious as I've not yet managed to photograph one of these

    Thanks to dpSparhawk

    Bilbo_baggin (5th June 2014)  


  7. #7
    DF VIP Member Bilbo_baggin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ruby-tailed Wasp in her nest hole...

    Quote Originally Posted by dpSparhawk View Post
    Ingenious use of a rawlplug there.

    Great shots mate. I'm envious as I've not yet managed to photograph one of these

    Clever little bees it seems m8.

    I have seen one or two each summer for the last 3 years I think, so I am wondering if there is some connection family wise with them. No idea if these wasps live long, or if their offspring get the homing beacon info like other bees do...


    Paul.

  8. #8
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    Default Re: Ruby-tailed Wasp in her nest hole...

    Excellent capture as usual.
    That last photo with her looking out of the hole in the wall where she can feel safe shows one reason why I am so passionate about trying to live in harmony with nature instead of destroying everything. All living things want to feel safe so they can live out their life finding a mate and producing their young to continue the species. In some creatures such as insects it may be just instinctive with very little feeling or pleasure involved but we can never be sure how an insect feels if its young are killed before leaving the nest and going their own way.
    Not saying we should not control insects or rats, etc. when they become a serious problem, but I hate it when someone kills a harmless insect just because its an insect. (">

    2 Thanks given to BigBird

    Bilbo_baggin (5th June 2014),  dpSparhawk (6th June 2014)  


  9. #9
    DF VIP Member Bilbo_baggin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ruby-tailed Wasp in her nest hole...

    Deep words indeed BB.

    I, like most kids I reckon, killed loads of bugs because we could, out of fun, devilment or fear. As we grow older - I suspect fear becomes the only reason.

    But since I got into macro photography, I have gained so much respect for insects, it's almost a devotion to seeing them alive...

    Paul.

    Thanks to Bilbo_baggin

    BigBird (6th June 2014)  


  10. #10
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    Default Re: Ruby-tailed Wasp in her nest hole...

    Agreed.. it's like as we grow older we actually open our eyes and suddenly see these creatures around us in a new light.. definitely with much more respect.

    I have a great fascination for the insect world now.

    supe.
    http://www.speedtest.net/result/2920820230.png

    2 Thanks given to supraman54

    BigBird (6th June 2014),  Bilbo_baggin (6th June 2014)  


  11. #11
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    Default Re: Ruby-tailed Wasp in her nest hole...

    last one for me great capture

    Thanks to peterc4

    Bilbo_baggin (6th June 2014)  


  12. #12
    DF Admin Mr Olympia's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ruby-tailed Wasp in her nest hole...

    Quote Originally Posted by peterc4 View Post
    last one for me great capture
    Me too...great shot.

    Thanks to Mr Olympia

    Bilbo_baggin (6th June 2014)  


  13. #13
    DF VIP Member Bilbo_baggin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ruby-tailed Wasp in her nest hole...

    Cheers guys


    Paul.

  14. #14
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    Default Re: Ruby-tailed Wasp in her nest hole...

    Great captures there mate

    Thanks to chesser

    Bilbo_baggin (6th June 2014)  


  15. #15
    DF VIP Member Bilbo_baggin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ruby-tailed Wasp in her nest hole...

    Quote Originally Posted by chesser View Post
    Great captures there mate

    Cheers Chesser

    Paul.

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