In the summer of 2016, I noticed some piles of sawdust under an old log in a wood pile. When I looked closely, I saw a small ant-like insect entering one of the holes that were scattered about. I took a few photos and posted them on iNat and it was identified as an aphid wasp (Pemphredon sp.). They returned every spring for the next six years, nesting in the same log.
But after the summer of 2022, I didn't see any more nesting there. But this summer they've shown up in a new location - in an old wood pile on the other side of the yard. It's a busy place this summer, with dozens of active nests.
On an old log. 12 mm This male (?) was hanging around the hole in the log for a half an hour or so waiting for the other wasp to leave. When it finally left, the waiting wasp pounced on it. The other wasp flew away without an mating (maybe it was ...
In the summer of 2016, I noticed some piles of sawdust under an old log in a wood pile. When I looked closely, I saw a small ant-like insect entering one of the holes that were scattered about. I took a few photos and posted them on iNat and it was identified as an aphid wasp (Pemphredon sp.). They returned every spring for the next six years, nesting in the same log.
But after the summer of 2022, I didn't see any more nesting there. But this summer they've shown up in a new location - in an old wood pile on the other side of the yard. It's a busy place this summer, with dozens of active nests.
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[o_desc] => On an old log. 12 mm\r\nThis male (?) was hanging around the hole in the log for a half an hour or so waiting for the other wasp to leave. When it finally left, the waiting wasp pounced on it. The other wasp flew away without an mating (maybe it was a male). After the interaction, I captured the waiting wasp, cooled it, took a few pictures, and released it to the same log to hang out again at the tunnel entrance.\r\n\r\nHere\'s an article about Pemphredon by Bug Eric.\r\n\r\n\r\n
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