This wasp was at my trumpetvine this morning. I've never seen a face like it. Can anyone identify it? Thanks in advance! I know, it's not a great shot but I was shooting into the sun.
I got it. I was taking pictures again today and that face showed up and subsequent pictures I could verify as a bee wolf of the genus Philanthus. I'd been noticing the little guy - they are quite small - for a couple of weeks - since the trumpetvine started to bloom. But they don't usually show their face. Bugguide.net had this much better picture of the face. Thanks to anyone who was interested and wants to discuss wasps.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/288297
I got it. I was taking pictures again today and that face showed up and subsequent pictures I could verify as a bee wolf of the genus Philanthus. I'd been noticing the little guy - they are quite small - for a couple of weeks - since the trumpetvine started to bloom. But they don't usually show their face. Bugguide.net had this much better picture of the face. Thanks to anyone who was interested and wants to discuss wasps.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/288297
Hi Martha, congratulation.You are right.
This most likely is Philanthus gibbosus, family Crabronidae, subfamily Philanthinae - the Beewolves!
See the photo and the link.
Regards,
Wafaa
https://www.google.com.eg/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiDwNiO8a3OAhUC7BQKHVg4DBkQjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.performance-vision.com%2Fairline2012%2Fairline-summer-12c.htm&psig=AFQjCNFX4DV6uhvOX8UKtVG0P6cKnSISnA&ust=1470610323499581
Hi Wafaa,
It's always wonderful to meet another wasp lover. They are among the most beautiful and functional insects (my opinion - of course I think that each species is the most beautiful and functional). I had these bee wolves in my garden (actually about a quarter of an acre) last year and they are back this year. I was glad to be able to identify them (Philanthus gibbosus) last year but it was a lot of trial and error. This is just the first time I ever saw the face. It is an odd face if you are mostly surrounded by the usual families of wasps (paper wasps and vespians).
You are lucky to live in Alexandria. I used to travel a lot and Alexandria and some other places in Egypt would be on my "bucket list" if I had such a list. My impression is that Alexandria is one of the best-preserved historical sites in the region. (Tell me if I'm wrong).
I don't know if you follow one of the other questions I follow - I remember seeing your name somewhere in the last couple of days. I posted there the other day the URLs of my websites. At this very moment, I'm taking a break from editing this week's blog of the creatures that inhabit or visit my small back yard. This started out as a hobby and I still rank myself as an amateur but I try to learn the things I discover for future use.
mokennon.albion.edu is my language research site.
The backyard blog is linked to that website but you can also go directly to http://mokennon.albion.edu/backyardblog.htm
Well, thanks for writing, keep well and cool,
Martha
ps. Are you interesting in any other insect groups?
mokennon.albion.edu
http://mokennon.albion.edu/backyardblog.htm
Hi Martha, you are right about Alexandria. Moreover it is one of the most fantastic cities because of the sea. Alexandria is my big love. Hope you can come and visit it.
I am interesting in Coleoptera.
Regards
Wafaa
Hi Wafaa, I apologize for saying "Are you interesting in...". I should have said
"Are you interested in any other groups?"
And English is my first language!
The coleoptera are so numerous! Darwin was supposed to have said, "God must have loved beetles, he made so many of them! Yet they are some of the most amazingly attractive creatures in this world. There is (or used to be) an arthropod museum just outside of Colorado Springs. They had so many beautiful moths and butterflies, but when I got to the Coleoptera room, I almost fainted from the beauty of some of those beetles!
Do not worry Martha, just a spelling mistake and I did the same one!!
Wafaa
Dear Martha,
I'm not a wasp lover but liked your "Backyard Blog" (http://mokennon.albion.edu/backyardblog.htm) very much.
Best Regards,
Tatsuo
Thanks Tatsuo, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I think of this work as a present for other nature lovers and also for people who don't love nature too much yet but are willing to give it a chance by seeing how lovely it is! I remember you sent me some ideas for my problem with the toads - thank you again for that!
The server has a log file which it updates with every probe. I don't often look at it but it has some interesting information.. Thanks for the suggestion though.
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