Queen wasp mating

[hkcrofter]

I was on Pewsey Down in Wiltshire hunting butterflies when this frenzied wasp activity caught my eye. It must be very uncommon to see and photograph this. They literally mobbed this queen trying to clasp her from every angle and eventually resolved into this successful mating.

Lovely Wall Brown and Marbled White butterflies but only one blue and no coppers.

Best regards