I'd never heard of a cuckoo wasp, Laura! Can you tell us any more about them? This is just beautifully done...I feel as if I'd recognize one if I saw it!
I had never heard about a cuckoo wasp either so I was pretty excited about this one... I have probably been calling them sweat bees all this time not realizing they are different. (I have really learned a lot with these sketches!) Anyway, the cuckoo wasps are usually green or blue metallic and are heavily armored (it really was a chore getting the pin through this one). They are mostly parasites in the nests of other wasps or bees though one species is a parasite of walkingstick eggs. I would love to find a blue one to put next to this one in the book!
Most of these insects are from my yard and garden. Every once in a while I will get an exotic one from Ft Worth (from my sister) and I have friends who will sometimes save bugs for me. Those are GOOD friends, eh?
I'd never heard of a cuckoo wasp, Laura! Can you tell us any more about them? This is just beautifully done...I feel as if I'd recognize one if I saw it!
ReplyDeleteCuckoo wasps are just beautiful aren't they? we have the prettiest jewel coloured ones here :) iridescent!
ReplyDeleteVery nice! Are these insects what you see in your garden?
ReplyDeleteI had never heard about a cuckoo wasp either so I was pretty excited about this one... I have probably been calling them sweat bees all this time not realizing they are different. (I have really learned a lot with these sketches!) Anyway, the cuckoo wasps are usually green or blue metallic and are heavily armored (it really was a chore getting the pin through this one). They are mostly parasites in the nests of other wasps or bees though one species is a parasite of walkingstick eggs. I would love to find a blue one to put next to this one in the book!
ReplyDeleteMost of these insects are from my yard and garden. Every once in a while I will get an exotic one from Ft Worth (from my sister) and I have friends who will sometimes save bugs for me. Those are GOOD friends, eh?
I found a blue one once... probably have photos somewhere lol. Keep looking!!
ReplyDeleteI think I have a picture of it. Am posting it on BugGuide.net......will find out and post.
ReplyDelete