Colin PurringtonA male Trypoxylon collinum guarding a nesting tunnel while the female forages for spiders. One of several pairs at the insect hotel in my front yard. #wasps #insects #hymentoptera #entomology #nature #spiders #InsectHotel #MacroPhotography
Etomo Kees@colinpurrington Woah, I had no idea some of these parasitoid wasps would have any pair behavior?
@etosaurus I'm not sure how common it is, but can assure you this species is *adorable*. Female feeds the male when she comes back with spiders. They are super fun to watch.
cthululemon@colinpurrington
Amazing eyes!
Amazing eyes!
@cthululemon The emarginate (notched) eyes are one of the useful diagnostic features for this genus. Shows up in other wasps, too, though, so not unique. E.g., Scoliidae, Pison, probably many others. Here's another view from a past year.
@colinpurrington
That’s really neat. Am I imagining that it makes this critter look a bit fly-like?
That’s really neat. Am I imagining that it makes this critter look a bit fly-like?
@cthululemon Flies and wasps both have big eyes, but Trypoxylon body shape is unlike that of most flies.
@colinpurrington
Right, sorry, I just meant that its head/eyes look a bit fly-like. Maybe it’s also the small mandibles.
Right, sorry, I just meant that its head/eyes look a bit fly-like. Maybe it’s also the small mandibles.
@cthululemon Ah, yes, definitely.
Nazani@colinpurrington
Which plant stems can we use for wasps & bees? I'm told the commercially made ones are junk.
Which plant stems can we use for wasps & bees? I'm told the commercially made ones are junk.