Bill Caulfeild-Browne
Well-known member
Island, Great Slave Lake. XF/150/80mm.
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These wasps are important pollinators, so that is good. They do sting, which is not. They are usually attracted to plants like milkweed and Queen Ann's Lace, so your parsley may also be attractive. Maybe it is a combination of their pollination and need for prey for their larvae?Parsley is a beautiful plant in its second year (biennial), but this year is filled with black wasps. Anyone know why? The usual visitors are hover flies but this year the wasps are swarming. 50r, Pentax 67 300mm ED f/4.
Thanks Will. It did occur to me that they were seeking some prey and that the prey is something I don't want on my plants. It is noteworthy that in 20 years of growing parsley I had not seen them in these numbers before.These wasps are important pollinators, so that is good. They do sting, which is not. They are usually attracted to plants like milkweed and Queen Ann's Lace, so your parsley may also be attractive. Maybe it is a combination of their pollination and need for prey for their larvae?
(And we really need our pollinators.)
I wonder if it may be due to our very late, cool and wet spring in the lower Great Lakes. I too am seeing unusual behaviour in insects, birds and even flowers - our Yellow Lady Slipper orchids came up a full 2 weeks later than normal, and are still blooming into July - very unusual. Mosquito and Blackfly are normally gone by end June - but there're still around. Maybe your bugs are simply late and making up for lost time!Thanks Will. It did occur to me that they were seeking some prey and that the prey is something I don't want on my plants. It is noteworthy that in 20 years of growing parsley I had not seen them in these numbers before.
Yes it was a late spring. May is typically one of my favorite months here, but this year was a wash out both literally and figuratively. What I find mysterious about the wasps is their behavior: they spend little if any time on the blossoms, but rather are flying an almost frantic, seemingly random path around the plants all day. They seem to be seeking something.I wonder if it may be due to our very late, cool and wet spring in the lower Great Lakes. I too am seeing unusual behaviour in insects, birds and even flowers - our Yellow Lady Slipper orchids came up a full 2 weeks later than normal, and are still blooming into July - very unusual. Mosquito and Blackfly are normally gone by end June - but there're still around. Maybe your bugs are simply late and making up for lost time!
Bill
Thanks, Tom - you're very kind and your comment about our common aesthetic is, I think, right on.Yes it was a late spring. May is typically one of my favorite months here, but this year was a wash out both literally and figuratively. What I find mysterious about the wasps is their behavior: they spend little if any time on the blossoms, but rather are flying an almost frantic, seemingly random path around the plants all day. They seem to be seeking something.
You mentioned your book on Blurb in an earlier post, I have since gone through it. It’s a real tour de force of global images. I think we share a common aesthetic, or at least like to photograph the same things, e.g., Great Lake lighthouses. My favorite might be the flycatcher you used for the cover. The shape of the branch adds a real elegance.
Tom
i deleted my facebook account, around 4-5 years ago, never looked back! great image btw.Facebook censored this image. The account of my experiment with Facebook business page is at https://djessemay.com/news-articles/89-facebook-business-page-comic-ineptitude-or-worse.html Enjoy. Hopefully you will find it entertaining.
View attachment 142935
Leica S, Summarit-S 120
Yes we should. I don't have any plans this year to visit my friends in Red Bay, ON this year, but if that changes I'll let you know. If you get down this way, let me know. The Niagara Gorge is spectacular in the fall.Thanks, Tom - you're very kind and your comment about our common aesthetic is, I think, right on.
My latest book is "Wild Canada", produced for Canada's 150th year of Confederation. It's on Blurb too. It was a limited edition of 450 copies and sold out quite quickly!
We should try to get together for a shoot!
Cheers,
Bill
OMGFacebook censored this image. The account of my experiment with Facebook business page is at https://djessemay.com/news-articles/89-facebook-business-page-comic-ineptitude-or-worse.html Enjoy. Hopefully you will find it entertaining.
View attachment 142935
Leica S, Summarit-S 120