More Wasp encounters

Hiya All

Here are three more shots of my close encounters or the Wasp kind, all the Wasps were very busy excavating my neighbours wall this particular Wasp caught my attention as it was trying to fly with this massive piece of Soil, it failed instead it crash landed about 10' to the ground still hanging on to its load & proceeded to drag it 18' across the road before leaving it, truly amazing feat.

Cheers for now
Mark

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A close up of this little chaps incredible load

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Hi Mark,
Three great shots - haven't seen any wasps yet this year.
Are your wasps digging a hole? If so, why would they want to carry it around? Why not just dump the spoil? I know they chew timber for nest material... but rocks?

Take care, David

Hiya David,

Many thanks for your kind words & comments,

Oh yes they're excavating what must be huge amounts of soil from this dry stone wall, a good question coz all they have to do is bring it to the exit & drop it as the hole is about ten feet up, seems a hellish waste of Wasp power to me !

I'm hoping to get some more shots as this nest develops but the weather is closing in yet again with rain on the Horizon, guess it's coming you're way as well

I've noticed a few Wasps chomping on a Fence Panel nearby & some of the Wasps are flying in with Pulp as the others remove the soil, busy little blighters.

Cheers for now
Mark

Fascinating story Mark and great shots, keep us updated with the goings on and a full shot of the site would be good especially when the wall falls down with all that excavating going on.

Great wasp action photos Mark, very interesting.

Hiya Alby, Werna,

Many thanks for your kind words & comments,

Alby
I'll get a SITE shot as & when it stops raining, started good & Sunny earlier but now tiz comming down stair rods down yet again

Cheers for now
Mark

Fine series there, hope you dont get stung. It would be interesting to weigh the soil and then the wasp (or a dead wasp!) to see what their maximum load to body weight ratio is. I think a strong human can lift twice their body weight, an ant something like 50 times.

Hiya RM,

Many thanks for your kind words & comments,

Hope I don't get stung either but I'm not bothered as I'm not allergic so far & to feel a different sorta pain for a change could be fun eh.

That's interesting idea but I'm rap at maths & spelling, I'll gladly do the weighing if you can do the maths

I took some more shots today but the little swines were really aggressive towards me, I think it is the humid/thundery weather here today that's go en going.

Cheers for now
Mark

Hi Mark, Fascinating series. I love the extended exploration and deeper study into their behavior. Keep up the good work but do take at least a little care.

Irwin

Great series, Mark! Didn't know they do this

Hiya Irwin, Adrian,

Many thanks for your kind words & comments,

Glad you are both enjoying it, it makes it all worth while, Irwin, I've always thrown caution to the wind, I'll never learn but thanks for your concerns most thoughtful

Cheers for now
Mark

Lovely set of shots Mark and interesting little story. Ive seen quite a few wasps around at the moment too, all busy doing something 'constructive' (excuse the pun lol) - at least they arent being a pest around people yet lol.

Linda

Hiya Linda,

Many thanks for your kind words & comments,

I love theses Wasps they're so industrious & a good pest control in ones garden.
unfortunately I gota feeling that this nest maybe destroyed as it's right on the roadside & loadsa kids walk by on their way to School & back & I heard someone saying the other day it should be destroyed before the kids get stung & that they were going to call the council about it.

Cheers for now
Mark

Interesting set Mark. As for taking the excavation spoil away, a suggestion might be that it draws less attention to the nest. Birds or other predators might notice the debris and home in on it?