A gathering of Wasps

[xpatUSA]

As I sit at the computer -if I glance up- I see the facia of the roof. For some reason, the occasional wasp lands there and nowhere else, then walks around a bit and then flies off. But lately it's been several wasps -and today:



I like the triplets!

Shot taken with in-camera flash angled up at about 45 degs. Pretty bad veiling flare from the sky cropped out.

I recent bought a Lumix DMC-LX1 compact -not the finest of IQ- but the ability to pull it out, rush outside, take a snap certainly beats my fancy stuff!

[Wavelength]

True; the trio create some interest; can you trim them out and invert to see their facial expression?

[tbob]

These look to be a quite large species. Are they aggressive? I suppose getting closer was a bit risky.

[royent]

Looks like you've got a wasp nest in the roof space

[xpatUSA]

These look to be a quite large species. Are they aggressive? I suppose getting closer was a bit risky.

They're about 3cm long, Trevor. I've been stung occasionally but they are not at all aggressive, so not much risk. I was about 2 or 3 ft away and they were busy bonking or awaiting their turn (my guess).

[xpatUSA]

Looks like you've got a wasp nest in the roof space

No roof space, Roy, it's a flat roof at 1 in 12 pitch, called a "shed roof". On the other side of the facia, it's packed with fiberglass insulation between 2x6 rafters.

[xpatUSA]

True; the trio create some interest; can you trim them out and invert to see their facial expression?

Here you are, Nandakumar-ji, an evil-looking trio of voyeurs ...

[xpatUSA]

Wow, I looked up just as they had gathered into a big clump which then fell downwards and out of sight.

There's a phrase over here which begins with the word "cluster" but the second word "-xxxx" is not allowed in posts ...

[Wavelength]

Hahaha, this crop looks really great; loved it; it is as if they were keenly observing you in action

[DanK]

I don’t know about that species, but some social Hymenoptera do that when the there’s a second queen and the hive is splitting. My son had a honeybee swarm outside his house for this reason. They can stay for days until they find a new location for a nest, but in that case, a local beekeeper happily took the swarm away.


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[xpatUSA]

I don’t know about that species, but some social Hymenoptera do that when the there’s a second queen and the hive is splitting.

Apparently these wasps mark a particular place and emit pheremones(?) to attract a female. Most of the time they (presumably male) just sit there with about one wasp-length of social distancing normal. Then a wasp (presumable a queen) will fly in and start interacting vigorously with a male which is about when other males rush to join the fray. Sometimes clumping can be seen, sometimes not.

Eight of them waiting as we speak ...

[xpatUSA]

Apparently these wasps mark a particular place and emit pheremones(?) to attract a female. Most of the time they (presumably male) just sit there with about one wasp-length of social distancing normal. Then a wasp (presumable a queen) will fly in and start interacting vigorously with a male which is about when other males rush to join the fray. Sometimes clumping can be seen, sometimes not.

Eight of them waiting as we speak ...

That was yesterday.

Just now at 10:30 AM I looked up and no wasps to be seen. I guess they've literally buzzed off to make a hive or two!

[xpatUSA]

That was yesterday [12 October].

Just now at 10:30 AM I looked up and no wasps to be seen. I guess they've literally buzzed off to make a hive or two!

Update: since then, they have returned. Although lesser in numbers, the occasional cluster-frik still occurs with temperatures around here being in the 70's/80's.