~9mm in length, antennae; pale ventral side. Did not know the males visited the nest, perhaps a new bee (son) not ready to leave yet. Appeared to be guarding the nest entrance from possible intruders including ants. Nest appeared to be communal, a female seen in the same nest here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/123152265
observation for the beetle
bee observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/144343248
Significant growth recovery following devastating Carter Canyon Fire July 30-Aug 8 2022
It is unclear what this species is. The females oviposit on wild hops. The upperside appears intermediate between Celastrina neglecta and C. humulus.
It is unclear what this species is. The females oviposit on wild hops. The upperside appears intermediate between Celastrina neglecta and C. humulus.
The common name can be misleading, as this animal is not an Ant, but the wingless female of a species of solitary parasitic Wasp. Its behaviour is unusual for Tiphiid, as it exclusively hunts Mole Crickets, as opposed to Beetle larvae.
I think an animal dug up the nest and spread it around on the ground. Several of the cells still had bees in them, so I moved them to a protected mossy spot in the hopes some were still viable. I believe they were close to emerging already, as you can see in the photos that the one I did observe emerging seemed to be well developed. I did see one fully emerged one crawling among them that looked pretty dry. It was still a bit slow though.
While taking a picture of this Eastern Hognose Snake, observation at https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/79960222, this butterfly landed. Friends?
a) The jumping spider resemblance is insane. b) The range of sizes among adults is insane. What is up with this fly.
Green Tiger-beetle
(Cicindela campestris)
Tyresta National Park,
Sweden
Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 USM Macro-lens
Laying eggs in yellow-black potter wasp’s nest
I didn’t realize it had caught dinner (some type of fish) until I got it under some light!
38 queens in a crack in this large red oak tree. Light drizzle but warm. Some with pollen in them. Some flying off and others arriving,
Nectaring on whorled milkweed (Asclepias verticillata).
Experts - What is going on here? This male American Kestrel sure did seem to have the hots for this female Merlin. He kept trying to get close to her and even brought her a few treats (insects?) from the grass beneath the fence. She accepted the treats but didn't seem thrilled with the attention. However, when he flew off, she followed him...
Ascalapha odorata seen on a night walk. Barro Colorado Island, Panama. 17 January 2012
Visiting the flower of a Tephrosia glomeruliflora ssp. glomeruliflora
Sphecidae (Thread-waisted Wasps)- Brown-legged Grass-carrier Wasp (Isodontia auripes) with a victim, believed to be of the Order Orthoptera- Crickets. It will serve as a larval food source in a large brood chamber normally containing several larvae. I have previously digitally documented a victim cricket being taken through the entrance.
Leafcutter Bee
I found it while it was cutting a leaf and trying to go inside the small hole of the tube (in photo).
Collecting damp mud from margin of a pan.
Also on the margin of the pan were 'look-alike' flies. See: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/19066439
sandy decomposed granite wash, ~ 75 F. many open burrows lining wash edge, evenly spaced, many wasps tending. female wasp with caterpillar prey wandering in ~ 8 yard circle, then found burrow. stashed prey, then seemed to clean burrow. eventually brought caterpillar into burrow, head first. proceeded to fill burrow with sand and small pebbles, then capped with larger pebble, then covered neatly with sand, impossible to detect burrow. many small parasitic flies in vicinity of burrow as wasp brought caterpillar into burrow