Potter Wasp

Back to the grove today, to try for more dragon flight shots. Nothing worth keeping, but managed to snatch this impressive potter wasp in between dragon shots.

Identification - Delta campaniforme, potter wasp.

At around an inch long and with that extensive petiole (joiny bit), this wasp is rather an imposing, scary even, sight. In actual fact, they are non-aggressive and easily approachable, if a bit skittish.

This one was nectar feeding on the creeping foxglove blooms, slicing into the base of the flower head, a short cut to the nectar. Many ants, bees and wasps employ this technique, as the bloom only lasts a few hours and falls off very easily. A fresh bloom grows each day. A carpet of white first thing in the morning, totally vanished by 2pm in the afternoon.

Dave