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fisherwr2 > Wasp building a nest
fisherwr2 > Simple eyes located on top of this wasp's head, between the multi-faceted compound eyes. The next image shows their location a bit more clearly. The simple eyes cannot focus but do detect changes in light intensity, as occurs during sundown and sunup. This triggers the insect's activity patterns - eg some insects are active at night, while others, during the day. Note the sensory hairs just below the lens of each eye.
fisherwr2 > View of the dorsal section of a wasp head showing the two kidney-shaped compound eyes, the three simple eyes in between the compound eyes, and the base of the antennae. Compound eyes are made up of hundreds or thousands of individual sections, each with its own lens and sensory cells. The eyes which wrap around the head from top to bottom allow the wasp to see above, to each side, the bottom, and to the front of it. The 3-dimensional nature of the eyes protruding from the surface of the head allow some site behind the insect. Compound eyes do not focus well, but the large number of individual units are excellent for picking up movement. The brain integrates all the visual input and makes "sense" of it and causes the insect to take the appropriate behavior. The simple eyes consist of one unit each and are designed to detect changes in light. They appear to be responsible for detecting changes in the daily photocycle (simple eyes are shown in greater detail in the previous image)
fisherwr2 > A hornworm that has been parasitized by a wasp, which laid eggs in the host. The eggs hatch into wormlike larvae that feed internally on the host tissues. When they finish feeding, they chew a hole in the integument of the host and crawl outside to construct a cocoon. Some worms (center and lower right) were caught by the camera in the process of crawling through the integument, while others that crawled out earlier have already started constructing cocoons in which to pupate. The cocoons will remain on the outside of the host until the adult wasps emerge (see other photos in this gallery)
fisherwr2 > Braconid parasitoid that just emerged from one of the cocoons constructed on the outside of a hornworm host. Many parasitoid larvae fed inside the worm, exited the body through the integument, and spun cylindrical silken cocoons in which they pupated. Interestingly, most of the adult parasitoids emerge about the same time. The adults chew a ring around the top of the cocoon forming a loose cap that allows them to crawl out. Note the three cocoons with wasps just starting to emerge. These wasps are excellent biological control agents and can be purchased from insectaries that raise them by the millions
fisherwr2 > A paper wasp, Polistes exclamans (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) constructing a nest. This queen uses masticated wood fibers and salivary secretions to make the nest. Note the egg already deposited in the upper cell. The cells remain open for the duration of the larval stage so the queen can feed the larvae. Prior to pupation the queen covers the openings. The offspring from this queen will be sterile and help tend additional larvae produced by the queen. This image was featured on the cover of the winter 2008 edition of American Entomologist published by the Entomological Society of America
fisherwr2 > Potter wasp (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) manipulating another load of mud to form her nest
fisherwr2 > Ichneumon (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) pupa
fisherwr2 > Two paper wasps, Polistes exclamans (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) on nest with eggs
Wasp building a nest
fisherwr2 > Wasp building a nest
Wasp building a nest
See photo in original gallery.
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