Potter Wasp Nest
4 September 2025

I found these potter wasp nests while pruning the plants on my balcony last September. Apparently I’m doing something right; I’ve noticed new species every year since I started planting native wildflowers around the property. Should I start logging observations?

#PenAndInk #NaturalHistoryArt #Art #PotterWasp #MasonWasp #Eumeninae #Vespid

Potter Wasp Nest
4 September 2025

#InkDrawing #PenAndInk #NaturalHistoryArt

Potter Wasp Nest
4 September 2025

Potter Wasp Nest (study in graphite)
3 September 2025

Yesterday was the first time I’ve seen potter wasp nests in my garden. These vespids can be beneficial, collecting beetle larvae and caterpillars to provision their offspring. They lay a single egg in each pot and seal the entrance.

#InkDrawing #PenAndInk #NaturalHistoryArt #PotterWasp #MasonWasp #Eumeninae #Vespid #Art

Happy #LunarNewYear #YearOfTheSnake 🌕🐍
Kawahara Keiga (Japan, 1786–1860?)
Tiger Keelback (Rhabdophis tigrinus), c.1823-1829
pencil drawing & watercolor on paper
Naturalis Biodiversity Center / Wikimedia Commons

Fun fact: While most snakes are incorrectly referred to as poisonous when they are actually venomous, this species is one of the rare cases that is both AND venomous AND poisonous!

#NaturalHistoryArt #ScientificIllustration

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Naturalis_Biodiversity_Center_-_RMNH.ART.129_-_Rhabdophis_tigrinus_-_Kawahara_Keiga_-_1823_-_1829_-_Siebold_Collection_-_pencil_drawing_-_water_colour.jpeg