Ectemnius wasp action (male ID please?)

[Nick Smith]

After Saturday's encounter with the Ectemnius Wasp and the Labyrinth Spider, I decided to spend some time near the nest this morning. I thought some of you might like to see the results.

Ectemnius Wasp emerges after excavating the nest. She is covered in wood pulp.






After a moment the Ectemnius wasp leaves the nest to go hunting.



A while later comes back empty handed.



A second trip out and she brings back a juicy fly.



The fly is dragged into the nest.



A second Ectemnius wasp lives very close to the first, only a few cm away.



I am wondering if this is a male as the two co-habit the nest without any problems, both coming and going freely.



The Ectemnius wasp emerges in the morning sun to go hunting.

[JRsbugs]

Interesting pics Nick, thanks.

I am wondering if this is a male as the two co-habit the nest without any problems, both coming and going freely.

I think it's more likely the other wasp is looking for a nest, or a parasite to the nest but I don't know which. I have a hole drilled in soft pulp of a Paulownia tree, today I have been taking pics os a small wasp filling it in after I imagine laying it's egg/s there. I think it's a Crossocerus as I took pics of one earlier in the year which has white on the face.

Janet

[Nick Smith]

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

Interesting pics Nick, thanks.



I think it's more likely the other wasp is looking for a nest, or a parasite to the nest but I don't know which. Janet

Hi Janet, I thought possibly the same at first but I did see both in the nest at the same time so I wasn't too sure. The smaller wasp frequently came and went, spending very short amounts of time in the nest.

This does remind me a little of watching Philanthus triangulum in 2007. A much smaller wasp followed them about, I assumed they were opportunistic, laying eggs on honey bees that Philanthus triangulum had caught.

Thanks for the compliment on the pics. I am hoping to upgrade to a better lens for this sort of shot. Maybe a Sigma f2.8 150mm or better.

ps, I edited the description of the smaller wasp to unknown for now.