Another New Species

This is my first record of this species, a European Potter Wasp Ancistrocerus gazella) so it made my choice of blip today very easy.  I am headed for an excellent year in terms of yard bugs.  Now that all my milkweed is starting to bloom, more and more pollinators are showing up.  This species is non-native to the US but is not considered invasive and would be welcome in most gardens, certainly mine.

One of my greatest "aha" moments in my journey of learning about insects was the discovery of so-called solitary wasps.  Unlike their social cousins (think hornets and yellow jackets), solitary wasps are not programed to defend a nest and thus lack aggression.  In fact, you really have to work at getting stung by a solitary wasp - like, maybe if you picked one up and squeezed it or stepped on one with a bare foot.  Otherwise, they are pacifists.  I've photographed literally thousands of solitary wasps from up close and never once gotten stung.  I cannot make that claim for social wasps, although I exercise an appropriate amount of caution if I know I'm near a nest and have only been stung a handful of times.  

We are in day one of what is going to be a hot week.  As usual, the media is having a field day.  Honestly, today wasn't bad at all - temps in the high 80's but low humidity and a little breeze so if one stayed in the shade, it was quite comfortable.  Of course, there is still the pollen to contend with...and I an off any sort of allergy meds until I get tested on Thursday.  Suck it up, buttercup.

I realized that I had not finalized my ebird reports from South Africa, so I spent some time on that today, adding images and so on.  A fun trip down memory lane.

Plain dark today

xo
Debbi