Wasps on the water

When the weather gets hot, the wasps head for the pool.

It was about 106 degrees this afternoon, and I noticed Paper Wasps (Polistes apachus) making frequent visits to my pool, so I grabbed the camera and joined 'em .

When I had a wasp nest in my yard a few weeks back, I would notice the ones returning from the pool sharing their water with others (mouth-to-mouth), and also putting it on the capped chambers, to keep them moist and cool, I assume.

1.

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Excellent captures - interesting behaviour
Brian v.

brilliant mate, they are all quality but the first one is the best for me, well done
(p.s......im very jealous at you living in vegas....i got married there and i love the place!!)

very cool pics. I really like the look in the first one.

Great photography, and great natural history too. Well done.

+1 ... brilliant captures. I am guessing these were with 100 2.8L, tripod, and bright afternoon light?

Great pictures and interesting info too.

Brilliant captures, and info!

Very nice!

Thanks for all the comments!

alphamalex wrote in post #12902412
...I am guessing these were with 100 2.8L, tripod, and bright afternoon light?

Afternoon light, yes on the lens, but no tripod. These are handheld and I had to use AI Servo AF because the breeze kept blowing the wasps across the water. From experience I know these wasps are not aggressive, so I had no problem getting up close to them.

popsandme wrote in post #12902279
(p.s......im very jealous at you living in vegas....i got married there and i love the place!!)

It's an OK place to visit but I'm not a desert or city person, and I don't gamble... so you can have it.

super shots, Moose - well captured

Totally cool captures Moose. Didn't know they could float on water!

orionmystery wrote in post #12903503
Totally cool captures Moose. Didn't know they could float on water!

Thanks, Kurt. It's all about surface tension and having their legs spread out just right. I have seen them make mistakes .

I have Nursery Web Spiders here that do the same thing.

Moose, that is a brilliant series!

I love 1 and 2

Thanks for sharing them

Martin

they are so cool! well done

phil