fungi on wasp?

[diggleken]

Hello all,
I assume this is a fungal growth on the wasp.
Is this fungi on the wasp an Entomophthora spp?
If so, which/what?
Are these insect fungi insect specific or generalised in their attacks?
Cheers
Ken

[eucera]

Could easily be pollen I suppose

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by diggleken

Hello all,
I assume this is a fungal growth on the wasp.
Is this fungi on the wasp an Entomophthora spp?
If so, which/what?
Are these insect fungi insect specific or generalised in their attacks?
Cheers
Ken

hi Ken

in order:

I don't think this is a fungus (and it's definitely not a fungi - slapped legs!)

given that it is not a fungus (that wasp would not be feeding happily on pollen if those were conidia, trust me) . . . as far as I know there has only recently been a report of an Entomophthora on a member of the Hymenoptera - on a Torymus species (a sort of chalcid, generally very small, often hyperparasites on gall wasps) and therefore only very distantly related to the social wasps

and in answer to your third question, as far as I understand it they are (in general) more generalised than many parasitic fungi - much more so than most plant parasites for example;

because of their potential as biological controls a lot of work is being done on these fungi, and as far as I can gather the taxonomic situation is complicated, with DNA studies separating taxa with very similar morphologies and linking ones which appear from their spores, hosts etc. to be not related

complexities in mycology - now where have I heard that before

cheers

Chris

[diggleken]

Originally Posted by Chris Yeates

hi Ken

in order:

I don't think this is a fungus (and it's definitely not a fungi - slapped legs!)

complexities in mycology - now where have I heard that before

cheers

Chris

Hi Chris, I thought the thought police might pick up on that!
The semantics and semiotics of fungus plurality eh? great fun.
But mmmhhh, thinks, - are lots of fruiting bodies from one mycelium (OR !) mycelia one fungus or lots of fungi?
I hope that one doesnt start up again, but pedantry apart, you are right - there are lots of grammatical and language errors about, lets not perpetuate them on WAB when we should know better. ha ha.
Back to the complexities in mycology, or of mycology etc etc - this is a little better of the wasp, so still dont really know what it is, or was................?
Cheers
Ken

[tameblackbirds]

looks like it was making bread I know I look like that when I do

sorry a bit of frivolity there

[diggleken]

HAHA! Love it tbb, so do I!
That explains it - a bread wasp then - vespula warburtonii.
Cheers
Ken

[Dogghound]

Im in the pollen camp here. Ive seen lots of insects that look like this. Im not very good on plants but its a tall one with purple flowers possibly rose-by willowherb that does it.

[diggleken]

Thanks everyone - pollen seems to be the answer!
Maybe digitalis (foxglove) is the pinky/purple plant Dogghound, with its petal tube making the insects go in deep and rub against the anthers etc etc.
Cheers
Ken

[Dogghound]

I honestly carnt remember as it was when I was fishing afew weeks back I was seeing loads of white insects wizzing around, Unfortunately I didnt pay much attention to the plants.

[diggleken]

But did you catch anything?