Quick, get your camera ready! There's a wasp!
Ever heard anyone say that?
We remember capturing an image of a European paper wasp, Polistes dominula, that had just shredded a caterpillar and was about to fly the prey back to her colony. It was a Gulf Fritillary caterpillar, Agraulis vanillae. Score: European paper wasp: 1; Gulf Fritillary caterpillar, 0.
Then there was the beewolf, a crabronid wasp from the genus Philanthus, that almost made a fatal mistake. It landed on the same buckwheat blossom occupied by a praying mantis. The beewolf escaped. Score: Beewolf, 1; Mantis, 0.
Like to learn more about wasps?
The Bohart Museum of Entomology is hosting an open house on social wasps from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 20 in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge Building, 455 Crocker Drive, UC Davis campus. It's free and family friendly. UC Davis distinguished professor Lynn Kimsey, director of the museum, will be there to answer questions about wasps and show specimens.
Attached Images:
A European paper wasp, Polistes dominula, has just shredded a Gulf Fritillary caterpillar and is about to take the prey to her colony. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A beewolf, a crabronid wasp, lands on a buckwheat blossom, unaware it's occupied by a praying mantis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)