Wasps Drinking

Its thirsty weather at the moment and there are a constant stream of wasps drinking at our bird bath.

#1 flash

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Very nice series. Never seen wasps drinking water. Can't help with the id though

Hi

Looks like a French Wasp. They are larger than the common wasp between 15-22mm long. nice pictures colours and sharpness.

Mark

Thanks Mark.

Do you mean Dolichovespula media also known as the MEDIAN WASP?

Most of the examples I can find don't look like they have the right banding. This shot agrees with my field guide also

Though there is one example that looks right, so I am not sure.

Leorooster wrote:
Very nice series. Never seen wasps drinking water. Can't help with the id though

Thanks, they are at the water all the time, clearly having trouble keeping hydrated in the heat wave we are having in the UK at present.

Lovely series Lester- I've seen wasps drinking water before but unfortunately it's normally on a lilly pad in my pond
Brian V.

Tony

Yes You have the correct name Dolichovespula media commonly known has the french wasp. They were not known in the UK untill the 80's but are now rapidly spreading in the south.

Mark

For confirmation here is another shot showing more of the wasp:

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LordV wrote:
Lovely series Lester- I've seen wasps drinking water before but unfortunately it's normally on a lilly pad in my pond
Brian V.

Well we don't have a pond - wish we did but the gardens too small really.

I guess the middle of the pond would not be too convenient. Even with this arrangement the bottom of the lens and flash bracket were getting wet!

I tried getting in close on the mouth parts with the MP-E but couldn't get enough DOF and the right angle for a good image. Even so it shows in some of the above shots they have these articulated mouth parts like little legs that scoop up the water.

Tony

Yep most definately the French Wasp.

Mark

Great series I like #1.

Omri Alon wrote:
Great series I like #1.

Thanks very much Omri.

Super shots again Lester.
BTW are these French wasps aggressive? Common or garden UK wasps are bad enough in the Autumn when the cool nights make them bad tempered.

Great looking shots, nice work

Nice shots...Im new to macro. What setup did you use to take these great pictures?