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Dancing Queen


Dancing Queen
Photo Information
Copyright: Gerhard Theron (gerhardt) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1976 W: 259 N: 4103] (11585)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-09-09
Categories: Insects
Camera: Minolta Dimage Z1
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Things in and around my house. [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2004-09-10 5:48
Viewed: 2834
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Queen Paper wasp (Polistes fastidiotus)

Special thanks to Callie de Wet who ID this critter for me.

PLEASE CLICK FOR LARGE VIEW.

Paper wasps are 2cm to 2.5cm long, slender, narrow-waisted wasps with smoky black wings that are folded lengthwise when at rest. Paper wasps should not be confused with yellow jackets and bald-faced hornets. Paper wasp nests are open and cells are not covered with a cap (in an envelope).

Paper wasps are semi-social insects and colonies contain three castes: workers, queens and males. Fertilized queens (which appear similar to workers) over winter in protected habitats such as cracks and crevices in structures or under tree bark. In the spring they select a nesting site and begin to build a nest. Eggs are laid singly in cells and hatch into legless grub-like larvae that develop through several stages (instars) before pupating. Cells remain open until developing larvae pupate. Sterile worker wasps assist in building the nest, feeding young and defending the nest. A mature paper wasp nest may have 20 to 30 adults. In late summer, queens stop laying eggs and the colony soon begins to decline. In the fall, mated female offspring of the queen seek over wintering sites. The remainder of the colony does not survive the winter.

Mouthparts are for chewing. Nests are built from wood fibre collected from posts and occasionally from live plant stems, causing some plant damage. This fibre is chewed and formed into a single paper-like comb of hexagonal cells. Nests are oriented downward and are suspended by a single filament. Mature nests contain up to 200 cells. Paper wasps prey on insects such as caterpillars, flies and beetle larvae which they feed to larvae. They actively forage during the day and all colony members rest on the nest at night.

You can clearly see from the photos how the eggs are increasing as she dances around the nest. I can't wait for the larvae to come and turn into new wasps.
carper, AndyB, Jax, PDP, RAP, Oldtree, Robbrown, nwoehnl, ellis49, Lourens, milloup, Callie, mogens-j, poppygan59, Jeppe, Phoki has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To marhowie: Format for photosgerhardt 2 09-12 15:38
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Critiques [Translate]

Wauw, very nice Gerhard.
In a LP version the Queen I like it very much.
each of them are good macro's with good colours and an exelent note, great job. Prachtig man

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1391 W: 32 N: 1350] (3982)
  • [2004-09-10 6:49]

An excellent series of work accompanied by a great note.
Great colours and composition in all,with good sharp detail.
I was surprised to see there was a fourth shot which isnt visible until I clicked on the Large View!
Great work,very well done.

  • Great 
  • Jax Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 91 W: 0 N: 153] (490)
  • [2004-09-10 6:56]

Excellent series (with a sneaky fourth shot!)and a great note. Lovely sharp captures and detailed compositions. well done.

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2004-09-10 7:56]

Gerhard! Very good, I love the four views, each is worthy to stand alone so it represents great value. I don't think I've seen this wasp before so thanks for posting. Great note as usual.

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2004-09-10 8:24]

Wow... gran LP la que has presentado aquí Gerhard.
Excelente el detalle y la nitidez capturada.
No creo que sea fácil acercarse a este insecto como a una abeja, por ejemplo.
Gracias por compartirla.

Wow... great LP the one that you have presented here Gerhard.
Excellent the detail and clearness captured.
I do not believe that it is easy to approach this insect like a a bee, for example.
Thanks for sharing with us.

Very good idea, to combine severals shots into this format. I like it very much. Thanks

3 good realy sharp images Gerhard, they show well all the details of the queen and nest. Where is the nest sited? and what setting did you use?
note sre very good too

Gerhard, At first glance I passed this over. Looked TOO small..Then I clicked ENLARGE! What a great sequence of photos showing this egg depositing activity. It doesn't get any better than this!! Guess I saved the best for last today!! Can you tell me where to get this format for displaying photos??

Great LP, Gerhard - all three shots are superb in their own right, and the assemblage makes for a kind of short movie. Excellent use of the large format, and your notes make a perfect companion.

Very good Gerhard.
All three have nice colors and good sharpness.
Great note.
Very well done.

Gerhard, I dont know how you do it!! Absolutely sharp, good lighting and perfect composition. Once again I have learned something new.

All four are good shots, but my favourite is the first one, for one on account of the very strong details on the eyes, and secondly because she looks as if she's "sitting on the throne", as we put it here ;-))
You certainly had luck to witness this happening.

  • Great 
  • Callie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1132 W: 105 N: 2609] (7531)
  • [2004-09-11 11:05]

Gerhard
Eers, die fotos - great!
I think this is Polistes fastidiotus - 18-26 mm. Reddish brwon, with 2 longitudinal yellow lines on last part of the thorax. Abdomen with 3 off yellow bands. Field guide to insects of SA

Excellent series Gerhard - each picture is a unique stand alone and all four put together in the LP simply are second to none. No need to talk about details here - everything is perfect as well as the note.

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2004-09-12 15:14]

This is a beautiful series. All the shots have excellent sharpness and the colors are natural. Very well captured. Any stings?

Gerhard
This is a very good series of shots. They are all well framed, and very sharp. Good job.

  • Great 
  • Jeppe Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 36 W: 0 N: 33] (193)
  • [2004-09-17 17:48]

Great work Gerhard - quess all been said - I like the fine sharp details and the note to follow.

Hi,
This is a very good succession of shots!
Very detailed note.
TFS
Kiril

very nice, I just posted a pic of another species of this genus, TFS Ori

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