Things the camera helps us see.

I have been observing these yellow jacket wasps for some time. Last week I observed a bit too closely and one stung me. Until then I had been pretty confident around insects. This time I flinched when they started flying and quickly closed the garden hose storage door where they have two hives. Had I behaved calmly as usual I am sure I would not have been stung. The good news is that the sting proved I am not allergic to their stings.

I have been puzzled as to why the wasps are hanging out at the hive for so long. I think the hive has grown a bit since the last time I looked. I took a photo just because it was an easy shot. When I looked at it in Photoshop I discovered eggs in four of the chambers and some other chambers have a shiny liquid which, I assume, will be food for the newly-hatched wasps.

These beautiful insects are fascinating and the stings hurt only for a while if one is not allergic. Allergy to their sting is an emergency situation, however.