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| Northern Paper Wasp |
Common Boneset ~ Eupatorium perfoliatum
The
Common Boneset is a hive of activity right now. Wasps especially are attracted to the white flowers. I counted seven Northern Paper Wasps on one plant yesterday.
A brand new insect sighting this summer was this male Tiphiid Wasp (
Myzinum sp.). The male sports a fake or 'pseudo' stinger that looks very menacing. The larvae of this wasp are parasitoids of scarab beetle larvae (ex. June Beetles). (
BugGuide.net)
This Sand Wasp (
Bicyrtes sp.) is also most often spotted on Common Boneset. This wasp preys upon true bugs (ex. Shield Bugs).
The distinctively shaped Potter Wasp (
Eumenes sp.) also likes Common Boneset.
A Thread Waisted Wasp (
Isodontia sp.) that nests in hollow stems and hunts crickets and katydids. (
Insects of the North Woods)
Bald Faced Hornets (
Dolichovespula maculata) have been difficult to photograph due to their fast, erratic flight but are regularly visiting Boneset flowers. This photo was taken a couple of years ago.
Wasps play an important role in the wildlife garden, keeping populations of plant damaging insects down and providing a balanced food web.
Wasps are not aggressive when visiting flowers for nectar. Stop and take a closer look at them and appreciate their unique forms and colorations.
Amazing photo's - all in focus and identified too. I spend hours reviewing bug photo's and discarding most. On the few that are passable I then spend many more hours trying to identify. I hope everyone appreciates the time and skill involved in this post.
ReplyDeleteThanks Garden Girl. I have many that are unidentified though!
DeleteOh more for me to find in my yard. I used to be very afraid of bees and wasps until I learned more about them and how they behave..Michelle
ReplyDeleteI agree, once people get up close and observe them visiting flowers then they can lose their fear of being stung all the time.
DeleteI planted this last fall and I have a nice 2 foot plant so far with a beautiful flower....I need to plant more this time in the white garden....I have noticed more wasps lately in my garden of differing colors and shapes...now I will start to see if I can distinguish them...
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea Donna to add this to a white garden. The flowers fade but don't 'brown out' as much as other white flowers.
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