Something you don’t see until the last photo is that this grasshopper is alive through this ordeal and is struggling while this wasp is taking its tail and yes I am laying on the ground capturing it all. The insect world is amazing!
I believe this is a Paper Wasp:
Unlike yellowjackets and hornets, which can be very aggressive, paper wasps will generally only attack if they themselves or their nest are threatened. Since their territoriality can lead to attacks on people, and because their stings are quite painful and can produce a potentially fatal anaphylactic reaction in some individuals, nests in human-inhabited areas may present an unacceptable hazard.
Paper wasps feed on nectar, and other insects, including caterpillars, flies, and beetle larvae, and they are often considered to be beneficial by gardeners.
11 Comments
Steve, that is totally incredible! I’ve never seen anything like it. Great series of photos.
totally strange!!!
Wow, this is an amazing series. Fantastic capture. I am going to share this with my friends who study entomology.
The great teacher brings us something awesome again! The insect world is indeed amazing and so are you to do what you need (laying on the ground) to get these incredible photos. So cool Janet that you are sharing with your friends who study entomology.
It looks like after all that, the wasp is flying off empty handed. Great, amazing, shots Steve.
The lengths you will go to! : )
Incredible!!! Steve, you see and capture what most of us would just pass-by and never notice, that alone sets you apart from most of the world, add to that your excellent photography skills and you make us all envious. Thanks for reminding us to see the smaller parts of creation too. Maybe Janet can find out for us the grasshoppers chances for survival and if the tail will grow back. Lili, if you look closely the tail is missing and the wasp has it in it’s grasp in in #4.
Judi is right Lili, the wasp did fly off with the tail and it did it so fast that I could only get a quick out of focus shot.
Amazing Steve,
Congrats!
That was awesome ! I do feel sorry for that poor grasshopper . Glad it survived . You have the best photography skills .
Thanks Michel and Ashley!
That’s incredible and you’re so lucky to have seen it all yourself. I’m glad you managed to take pictures of it, wasps are clever insects.
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