Last Friday I filmed and photographed the rare Heath Potter Wasp constructing its pot. (Thanks to John Walters for kindly allowing me to photograph at his study site). Once the pot was constructed the wasp then lays a single egg and goes on to fill the pot with caterpillars. This can take several days depending on availability of prey and weather conditions. What I have found fascinating is the way the wasp can find the pot that even after not visiting for a day if the weather isn't suitable. Today, Tuesday, 4 days after the pot was constructed, the wasp was still filling its current pot with caterpillars. I posioned myself next to it and eventually after several hours of waiting, the wasp visited just once and with a tint little pug moth caterpillar. THereit is in the photo, its the brown thing in the moths jaws and being held by the legs. The wasp is in the process of inserting it in to the pot. This pot still needs to have more caterpillars added so its not been sealed yet and tomorrow that will continue. Apparently, the process of adding caterpillars can be reasonably quick but if there is not a good stock of caterpillars then it can be a drawn out affair which takes several days and like I said, with this pot its taken 4 days so far.
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August 20, 2013
Heath Potter wasp - (Eumenes coarctatus) with prey.
Last Friday I filmed and photographed the rare Heath Potter Wasp constructing its pot. (Thanks to John Walters for kindly allowing me to photograph at his study site). Once the pot was constructed the wasp then lays a single egg and goes on to fill the pot with caterpillars. This can take several days depending on availability of prey and weather conditions. What I have found fascinating is the way the wasp can find the pot that even after not visiting for a day if the weather isn't suitable. Today, Tuesday, 4 days after the pot was constructed, the wasp was still filling its current pot with caterpillars. I posioned myself next to it and eventually after several hours of waiting, the wasp visited just once and with a tint little pug moth caterpillar. THereit is in the photo, its the brown thing in the moths jaws and being held by the legs. The wasp is in the process of inserting it in to the pot. This pot still needs to have more caterpillars added so its not been sealed yet and tomorrow that will continue. Apparently, the process of adding caterpillars can be reasonably quick but if there is not a good stock of caterpillars then it can be a drawn out affair which takes several days and like I said, with this pot its taken 4 days so far.
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