Wasps - through a long lens

[Stagecoach]

Came across this nest today but it was not possible to get close with the 105mm macro so I had a go with longer lenses.

Fortunately I was able to work from a tripod so also had a play around with flash and ambient balance. I had not shot one of these for a long time and had forgotten the tight DoF. The images are cropped more than I like to but I was at my closest focusing distances.

No 1 - 200mm, 1/60s, f/11, ISO200 (D800/70-200)


No 2 - 200mm, 1/80s, f/14, ISO200 (D800/70-200)


No 3 - 550mm, 1/400s, f/29, ISO1600 (D800/80-400+1.4TX)


Grahame

[Shadowman]

Nice shots.

[Stagecoach]

Nice shots.

Thanks John.

[xpatUSA]

Nice set, Grahame.

I took a similar shot some years ago with the Panasonic GH1 + 45-200mm; but hand-held while standing on a pair of wobbly aluminum steps. For some reason, it wasn't my best macro shot that year.

[rpcrowe]

These guys can be dangerous little beasties. A long focal length seems like a good idea when shooting them...

[Manfred M]

You seem to have developed a taste for stinging insects. The shallow DoF is very effective in removing background distractions.

[Geoff F]

Are they wasps or hornets? Hornets don't worry me too much but I always take care around wasp nests.

A difficult subject which has come out well.

[DanK]

Nice captures.

Geoff--I wondered the same thing, but I don't know enough. I don't have a single authoritative source, and the sources online are inconsistent. Worse, at least in this country, the most common "hornet", the bald-faced hornet, isn't a hornet at all. And there are something like 20 species of true hornets, and some of the descriptions cover only some of them (like the sources that say that they are black and white, not yellow). And, of course, there a a lot of wasp species, and they differ a great deal.

Looking for consistencies in all of this, this is what I come up with, which might simply be wrong:

1. Hornets are the largest wasps.
2. They have more bulbous, rounded abdomens than most other wasps.
3. Many but not all are black and white
4. They tend to hold their wings swept back when at rest, which many species of wasps don't (but some do)
5. Hornets have a wider space between the eyes than do most wasps.
6. The European hornet is not terribly aggressive unless you get close to the nest, but some other hornets are extremely aggressive.
7. The venom of hornets is much stronger than that of most wasps.

If 1, 2, and 4 are correct (can't see #5) (a big "if"), then I would guess hornets. Am I off track?

[Urbanflyer]

love the last shot in particular..good crop and DoF works well. good work

[Geoff F]

It was the general shape which made me think more about hornets than wasps. Grahame, but I am only familiar with these UK hornets.

https://secure2.pbase.com/crustacean...6/original.jpg

[Stagecoach]

Nice set, Grahame.

I took a similar shot some years ago with the Panasonic GH1 + 45-200mm; but hand-held while standing on a pair of wobbly aluminum steps. For some reason, it wasn't my best macro shot that year.

Thank you Ted, I have also shot them from a pair of steps before which makes a fast getaway a bit awkward

[Stagecoach]

These guys can be dangerous little beasties. A long focal length seems like a good idea when shooting them...

But the results can have more impact when close up

[Stagecoach]

You seem to have developed a taste for stinging insects. The shallow DoF is very effective in removing background distractions.

The problem at present in my area is that insects and critters have become scarce so any opportunity has to be grabbed. I'm not sure if it has anything to do with global warming or our local council undertaking mosquito spraying more regularly.

[Stagecoach]

Nice captures.

Geoff--I wondered the same thing, but I don't know enough. I don't have a single authoritative source, and the sources online are inconsistent. Worse, at least in this country, the most common "hornet", the bald-faced hornet, isn't a hornet at all. And there are something like 20 species of true hornets, and some of the descriptions cover only some of them (like the sources that say that they are black and white, not yellow). And, of course, there a a lot of wasp species, and they differ a great deal.

Looking for consistencies in all of this, this is what I come up with, which might simply be wrong:

1. Hornets are the largest wasps.
2. They have more bulbous, rounded abdomens than most other wasps.
3. Many but not all are black and white
4. They tend to hold their wings swept back when at rest, which many species of wasps don't (but some do)
5. Hornets have a wider space between the eyes than do most wasps.
6. The European hornet is not terribly aggressive unless you get close to the nest, but some other hornets are extremely aggressive.
7. The venom of hornets is much stronger than that of most wasps.

If 1, 2, and 4 are correct (can't see #5) (a big "if"), then I would guess hornets. Am I off track?

It was the general shape which made me think more about hornets than wasps. Grahame, but I am only familiar with these UK hornets.

https://secure2.pbase.com/crustacean...6/original.jpg

Dan, Geoff

These are hornets as far as I'm aware but then again there's some confusion with similar 'paper wasps'. From our main Pest Killers website I found this;

Vespa crabro ....................... (with identical picture) https://www.rentokil.com.fj/wasps/species/

Nesting – In sheltered places, e.g. tree trunks, bushes, sides of buildings, barns, attics, hollow walls. Their nests are grey and paper-like.
A colony can reach a size of 700 workers
Sting - Only sting when provoked. Sting is painful to humans. They can bite and sting at the same time. They can mobilize the entire nest to sting in defence which is highly dangerous to humans.
Feeding - Live insects and sap. Are not attracted to human food.

I can confirm from past experience that they do attack in groups and whilst around their nest it appears they have a lookout.

[Stagecoach]

love the last shot in particular..good crop and DoF works well. good work

Thank you Judith.

The last shot was an experiment to see what I could achieve for max DoF at f/29 with a high ISO.

[Jim A]

A very interesting set and thread, Grahame, glad I had a look!

[FootLoose]

Nice work, Grahame. I also think the last image works best.

[Geoff F]

Not Vespa crabro (the UK Hornet) which have a distinctive brownish patch, clearly visible on my photo.

And yes, our hornets have 'nest guards' so if you get too close to the nest they will dart out and buzz you; which means it is time to back off a little.

[Stagecoach]

A very interesting set and thread, Grahame, glad I had a look!

Thank you Jim.

[Stagecoach]

Nice work, Grahame. I also think the last image works best.

Thank you Greg, I agree about the last image