† Requires Javascript
Copyright © 1997-2009 Demand Media. All rights reserved.
|
| Member | Message |
|---|---|
 |
Posted: Sep/10/2008 4:32 AM PST
The cute bees thread reminded me that pollinators come in all shapes and sizes. From bees to beetles to wasps, even birds help! Here is a wasp on one of my goldenrods yesterday, just doing his thing. Not the prettiest bug (bless his heart), but important to the big picture nonetheless. Attachments:  |
 |
Posted: Sep/10/2008 6:45 AM PST
Wasps are so often maligned and misunderstood. They do perform many valuable roles, esp. as parasites and pollinators. I recall a great photo I think Aurora posted of a tomato hornworm covered with wasp eggs. And then there's the puny little trichogramma wasp - what a great friend to the gardener! There's a little patch of lemon mint next to my front step. At any given moment there's a half dozen different species of wasps buzzing around on it. They're welcome in my garden! |
|
|
Posted: Sep/10/2008 7:08 AM PST
It's funny you mention that because my neighbor just called me to ask about this big green caterpillar on his cherry tomato plant - with lots of white eggs on it! So of course I told him all about it and he was very interested and decided to just let it be (I think he felt sorry for it after he heard about the wasp eggs). I have a big patch of mountain mint (heck, it's a mint, of course it's a BIG patch, right?) and it was just covered in umpteen different kinds of wasps this summer. Mints must be a favorite of theirs. |
 |
Posted: Sep/10/2008 7:32 AM PST
I did a little wasp research a couple weeks ago when we had that big cicada killer wasp in our yard. Neat things, and apparently gentle. I haven't seen it again, but I guess I'll see some next year when the offspring come out of the burrow. |
† Requires Javascript
Copyright © 1997-2009 Demand Media. All rights reserved.
