Archives
A Sample of Pop’s “Bee” Images

Tuliptree Blossom with Guest

Another Day at Work

Apis Workers' Party

Predator

Some of Your Beeswax

Sedum Bumbler

Look of Defiance

Chicory Bee

Bumbling Bees

Garden Cafe

Buzz By Here - To Infinity and Beyond

Pick Your Poison

Blind Side Attack

On a Mission

Honey Bee on Sedum

Covering the Cosmos

Center of the Cosmos

Three's a Crowd

Popular Spot

On A Pedestal

A Sample of Pop’s “People” Photo Collection

Big Harry Fireworks Display

To Impress the Girl

Different Perspective

Sweet Ride

Perfect Little Piggies B&W

Flipping the Light Fantastic

Festival of Flights

To the Crowd's Delight

Amish Go Round

Wondersome One

The Stars In Her Eyes

Tuesday's Child

Sleeper Hold

Considering the Next Move

Sugar and Spice

Front Porch Portrait

Caged Competitor

Early Adoration

Child In the Ligtht

Stroll Through the Weeds

Attention Grabbing

Eye Contact

On the Line

Eyes of Wonder

Rounding the Curve

Troubadours of Basin Spring Park

Down by the Creek

Sun Day

Catching Some Light

EAA Fireworks

Hear Me Roar

Wasp

Moment of Reflection

Wasp, Yellow Jacket, Water, Reflection

These common wasps seemed to be admiring themselves in the water’s reflection.  Actually, they were getting a drink at the birdbath in our yard.

I happened to notice a few wasps at the birdbath one day and keep watching.  I found a steady stream of wasps visiting the birdbath all day long.  Shortly after, I discovered a steady stream of wasps flying up into a corner of our house. They obviously they had built a nest there.

I also found a couple of wasp nests in the ground of our yard. It must have been a good year for wasps in our area. On a good note, they were never bothersome to us; a little worrisome when one found its way into the house, but no stings. (Ironically, my wife was stung by one while hiking during our vacation in South Dakota.)

You can get a better, more detailed look at these by clicking on the photo.

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Pick Your Poison

Wasp, Spider, Bugs, Insects, Together, Macro, Yellow Jacket

On a cool fall day, I uncovered my barbecue grill and found a large spider clinging to the grill cover.  The moment I spotted it, I ran into the house…to grab my camera, of course. As I was taking photos of the spider, a wasp buzzed into the shot. (An insect photo bomb!)

I took several shots of the pair before the winged one flew off. While together, they seemed to get along just fine; no signs of tension or animosity.

I’m not sure I’ve ever photographed a more unlikely pair…a more menacing pair…a more dangerous duo.

No insects, arachnids or photographers were injured or harmed in the production of this image.

To get view an even larger version, click on the photo.

Ugly Bug Feast

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My camera and I spent a warm summer morning roaming the woods of northwest Missouri.

I found small clearing with some wildflowers, including a number of beautiful Queen Ann’s Lace. On one bunch of Queen Ann’s Lace I spotted a black wasp with distinctive white stripes. It was easy to see the bed of white.

Upon closer inspection, it was obvious the wasp had died there  Then I noticed a smaller, ugly bug gnawing on it’s leg.  It took some searching and help from a friend to identify it as an Ambush Bug.

I watched it for awhile and saw the ambush bug try to carry the wasp off, but seemed unable. I think the wasps legs were stuck in the flower bed.

I made it a point to check back the next day and couldn’t find any sign of either parties.

To see a larger version of any of these images, simply click on them.

Winged Wonder

 giant ichneumon wasp, Megarhyssa macrurus,  giant hornet giant ichneumon wasp giant black wasp giant wasp runescape giant wasp texas giant bee giant water bug giant yellow jacket, Wisconsin,

On a walk along the trails of Door County’s Potawatomi State Park (near Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin) I encountered some of the strangest bugs I’ve ever seen. There were a number of these bugs on a tree. They were not easily spooked, so they were easy to photograph.

The large image is a shot looking up the tree – as the bug was facing down. It looks like a rather unique bug…but not so much different than a lot of flying bugs. The thing that makes this the strangest bug I’ve come across is how it lays it’s eggs.

The bug’s body was about 1 1/2 to 2 inches in length. Those strands that arch up over it’s abdomen (the back end), were inserted into the tree. (Better seen in the side view.) When I finally saw one move, it pulled those strands out and they were three to four times the over all length of the bug’s body. It was like watching some very small-scale version of an space alien movie monster.

It took quite a bit of Googling to figure out what this bug is.  According to www.exploretheoutdoorsohio.com this is the giant ichneumon wasp (Megarhyssa macrurus). Those long things are called an ovipositor. It inserts them into the dead wood of a tree, in search of one thing: the larva of another wasp, the pigeon tremex horntail (Tremex columba). It can detect the wasp larva’s movements in the wood, locate it, and then lay an egg next to the larva. Once the ichneumon wasp has done this, it will then sting the horntail larva, paralyzing it. Later, the ichneumon wasp larva will hatch and devour the horntail wasp, and continue to grow to adulthood.

I didn’t realize this was a wasp. Lucky for me, it is harmless to humans! The article I read said, “If you’re walking in the woods and come upon some dead trees in a sunny area, search around a bit and you might be lucky enough to find one.”

You can view a larger version of either photo by clicking on them.