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European Wasp (or German wasp)


European Wasp (or German wasp)
Photo Information
Copyright: marie christine guegan (mariki) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1060 W: 61 N: 2306] (9467)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-09-30
Categories: Insects
Camera: Samsung digimax D103
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/180 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Hymenoptera [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-10-01 1:53
Viewed: 702
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Vespula germanica, not 100% sure, I have to check when the weather gets better.

Dutch name: Duitse wesp
French name: Guêpe germanique ou guêpe européenne

The German wasp is about 13mm long, and has typical wasp colours of black and yellow. It is very similar to the common wasp (Vespula vulgaris), but seen head on, its face has three tiny black dots. German wasps also have black dots on their abdomen, while the common wasp's analogous markings are fused with the black rings above them, forming a different pattern. (source: wikipedia)

Life cycle:

The queens normally emerge from their winter quarters in mid-April, and each one starts to search for a suitable site for its future colony - this may be a cavity in a wall, in a loft, or under the eaves of a house. Other favourite locations are, garden sheds, privet hedges and holes in the ground. The queen starts the colony by building a spherical cell about the size of a walnut. The nest is built from wasps paper, a mixture she makes from chewed wood, plant debris and saliva. Inside the cell she constructs between 10-20 hexagonal cells and lays a egg in each one. When these hatch she is kept busy fetching food for the larvae. The larvae then construct silken cocoons in which they pupate, about a month later the first workers emerge,. These are smaller than the queen and are all female - male wasps emerge later in the season. The queen can now concentrate solely on egg laying, whilst the workers take over the nest construction enlarging it as required. They also forage for food, ventilate the nest and feed the developing wasps larvae. By the end of the summer, the nest may house ove 20,000 wasps. With the onset of autumn, new queens and males are bred. Once fertilization has taken place the males die and the young queens search for a suitable hibernation site to spend winter i.e. lofts and under the bark of trees. Because wasps have not evolved to the level of storing food over winter the colonies die when conditions become too cold, existing nests are never re-used.

(source: www.castlemorpeth.gov.uk/services/environment/environmental_health/Pest_Control/Documents/wasps.PDF)

In the WS, another working female, I guess this time a queen. The picture was taken in mid-May 2008.
boreocypriensis, cypturk, siggi, anel, xTauruSx, uleko, Argus, zulfu, nglen, Gert-Paassen, bahadir, jaycee, jpdenk has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Argus: Thank you,mariki 1 10-01 12:37
To uleko: Thank you,mariki 1 10-01 12:32
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Marie, a perfectly focused and composed shot of a European wasp with great clarity, nice POV/DOF and sharpness.
Many tahnks for sharing this fine image my friend!
Have a nice day!
Cheers,

Bayram

Hi Marie Cristine,
An amazing close-up capture of this dangerous wasp. I liked the composition you captured a lot. Focus, clarity, POV and composition are very good. TFS
Greetings,

Merih

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1380 W: 56 N: 4759] (16364)
  • [2008-10-01 4:19]

Hello Marie .
A Very good shot from the wasp, good compositie details sharpnes light pov and dof ,Greetings Siggi.

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1726 W: 0 N: 3927] (15770)
  • [2008-10-01 5:49]

Bonjour Marie-Christine,
Je ne sais pas comment tu fais, tu nous présentes tes insectes souvent sous un jour bien aimable. J'en viens même à penser que je n'ai encore jamais vu une guêpe aussi mignonne! Elle a l'air si innocente! Et pourtant l'année dernière l'une d'elle m'a piquée sur les lèvres, pas vraiment drôle..
Une bonne fin de journée
Anne

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5208] (17609)
  • [2008-10-01 6:42]

Hello Marie,
I accidently sat on a wasp once the are not polite when they want you to move, ouch. Splendid camera work Marie and very good notes, thank you.
Rick

Hello Mariki, a superb macro capture of a wasp with wonderful details an composition.
TFS and regards,

Deniz

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2999 W: 162 N: 984] (2877)
  • [2008-10-01 9:08]
  • [+]

Hello Marie,
Exvcellent sharp capture of this Wasp! At first I thought that it was gathering material for its nest but its more likely to have found something sweet to lick up here in September!! I like the POV and the natural colours in your composition.
TFS and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3824 W: 190 N: 11393] (35107)
  • [2008-10-01 9:29]
  • [+]

Hello mariki,
An excellent macro of V. vulgaris making woodpulp for its nest. great POV and sharpness showing the jaws in action on the wood.
TFS this delightful image,
Cheers,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1065 W: 0 N: 162] (870)
  • [2008-10-01 11:51]

Hello marie, a wonderful image of this wasp with nice colours, details and composition. TFS and G's,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • demeve Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 604 W: 11 N: 1631] (5995)
  • [2008-10-01 12:15]

Hello Marie,
Beautiful Wasp very nice colors and focus
.. Well done

Everton

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2916 W: 34 N: 8651] (32250)
  • [2008-10-01 12:40]

HI Marie. This is a fine close up of the Wasp collecting wood for its nest. I have seen this in the garden . I think they are taking my garden chair slowly.You have sharp focusing and rich natural colours. well done TFS.
Nick..

Hi Marie,

Great macro shot of this wasp.
You really are an expert in Insect.
This one has very good details with natural colours.
I don't know of this are the German wasp.

Gert

Hello Mariki, superb macro shot of this wasp with nice natural colours. TFS.
Greetings,
Bahadır

Hi Marie,
Very good picture of this European Wasp, which looks already a bit tired. Good POV and composition, good BG, sharp details and bright colours.
TFS
Pekka

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2008-10-01 14:05]

Hi Marie,

Wasps are not a favorite of mine but these are two wonderful shots. You were brave to get so close. An excellent view of the entire insect with fine details, textures and colors.

Jane

  • Great 
  • RP1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 163 W: 1 N: 119] (2404)
  • [2008-10-01 16:47]

bonjour Marie Christine,
Très belle photo de cet Guêpe. Les détails et les couleurs sont excellent.
Merci,
Roger

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2008-10-02 4:09]

Hello Marie, Very nice shot and a great sharp image. Nice view. Ganesh

Hi Mariki,

A beautiful little insect, nice clear image. Don't get too close!

John

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1381 W: 126 N: 5246] (23469)
  • [2008-10-03 16:26]

Bonjour Marie, superbe macro, le netteté est fantastique et les détails sont incroyables, bravo encore! Merci,

Mario

Buen documento de una especie creo que poco común por aquí. Excelentes colores y bien reflejadas sus tonalidades.
Saludos.

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