Nature's Place

A Wave of Wasps

One recent day I noticed all these Ichneumon wasps about. They were flying around checking dark spots on the wood and anything upright. I have seen them before doing this, once, and what happened was the wasp turned round and lowered her pointed end into the darkness and ‘I suppose’ laid an egg, having found something in the darkness to lay it on.

They can smell or otherwise sense with the tip of their tail, very useful that, to a wasp. And it’s not really a tail, it’s an ovipositor, or egg depositor down which she delivers her eggs to a suitable place for growth and development – survival.

That’s what they do when laying time comes, the egg is laid on another creatures laying, such as a grub, and lives and grows on that. Nature doing what it doe, one thing living off another.

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Humans do it too, but they’ve gone mad and feed off each other now. Those movies about people going mad with a rage virus are a metaphor for the truth that seems hidden from most. It’s been happening ever since self reflection caused instinct to warp into emotional self interest.

The way we are. It takes every moments effort to keep that emotion from taking control, as it has with most people. But there’s nothing else worthwhile doing, so …

Into the breach, and see what comes my way …

Mark Berkery ……. Click any picture and click again to enlarge

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23 Responses

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  1. Tammie said, on 26/10/2011 at 2:34 pm

    holy moly Mark, you bring their beauty… in an intimate way to our hearts, thank you.

    • Mark said, on 29/10/2011 at 6:35 am

      Thanks Tammie. Holy Moly indeed … :)

  2. Anna said, on 23/10/2011 at 2:27 pm

    Mark excellent close up as always. I think I asked you that before what micro lens you are using or any recommendations. I fixed my 20D Canon and I want to use it for macro. I always get confused in the store since the person selling knows nothing about macro. You seems to be expert.

    On the side note I really enjoy your thoughts based on the actual facts. I never knew about those wasps. We have similar here, and they probably have the same function. Thanks for sharing again.

    Anna :)

    • Mark said, on 29/10/2011 at 6:30 am

      Hello Anna.

      Good to see you are still up and about. Mail is on the way re lens.

  3. Lunar Euphoria said, on 22/10/2011 at 12:22 am

    Beautiful. Informative. Thank you.

  4. Karen Chandler said, on 21/10/2011 at 9:11 am

    Outstanding photos – a joy to view! I love how you captured the delicate transparency of the wings.

  5. niasunset said, on 21/10/2011 at 2:42 am

    Wonderful photographs… These kind of photographs fascinate and impress me so much. You can see the micro world better. But nothing goes well I think, the harmony is in the dangerous with this great human world… While we are doing something good and necessary, we also damage to others or it finds at the end us… Thank you for sharing with us, I am impressed by your beautiful photographs and also the thoughts about them. With my love, nia

    • Mark said, on 22/10/2011 at 6:52 pm

      Thanks Nia. Yes, everything is in its place and it’s all good in the end.

  6. rachelci said, on 20/10/2011 at 3:25 am

    Yes, we’re all insane, and the violent rage media are matched only by shows about law enforcement, the endless struggle to rein in those “bad” impulses. I think it’s about the illusion of separation, though, the belief that we are discrete organisms independent of one another, which makes violence and excessive acquisition of stuff seem like a good idea.
    As always, your photography is stunning. I had never seen the exquisite beauty of an ichneumon before. Thank you.

    • Mark said, on 20/10/2011 at 4:05 am

      Thanks Rachel. It’s an indication of intelligence to see it. And to reduce it to such fundamental proportions as separation and belief is very close. We are separate therefore we must compete to survive, though it is the emotion that is competing and surviving.

  7. tmso said, on 20/10/2011 at 1:23 am

    Interesting analogy. But, yes, we do feed off each other, however, I believe this has happened since…well…forever.

    Nice shots. Seeing them up close like this really show how fragile they are. I hope I remember that the next time I swat at one…

    • Mark said, on 20/10/2011 at 4:01 am

      Ha, ha. Teasing me. :) There’s no need to swat them, they are harmless and in fact help keep the balance of things, parasitising spider and other young.

      Forever is only since the beginning of time, and time began when we started to think. It is only then that we thought about what was until then instinct, and it began to move as emotion – death to peace of mind.

  8. bareego said, on 20/10/2011 at 12:47 am

    Wow, that’s a real beauty and so well shot. I only get the black and white striped Ichneumon wasps aplenty, but none this pretty.
    Looks like things are warming up again and the crawlies are on the rise again :O)
    Time to go out there again lose yourself in the pulse of life.

    BTW, do you still do your macro meditation days ?
    Cheers
    James

    • Mark said, on 20/10/2011 at 3:56 am

      Hello James, good to hear from you again. Things are warming a bit but I think last years flooding is having a significant effect on the populations and seasons.

      I don’t do the macro days as such but anyone is welcome to come out with me, just bell me or email if you want to meet up.

  9. Galen Leeds Photography said, on 20/10/2011 at 12:11 am

    A very interesting looking wasp. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen one quite like it

    • Mark said, on 20/10/2011 at 3:51 am

      They are many species here in Brisbane. Sometimes I watch them among the plants in the garden as they go from place to place seeking god knows what.

  10. jamyun said, on 19/10/2011 at 11:11 pm

    this is amazing

    • Mark said, on 20/10/2011 at 3:50 am

      Hello Michael Jamyun. Pleased you are still with me.

      And how is your photography coming along? What is your site?

  11. Rifqi said, on 19/10/2011 at 9:39 pm

    Love all the soft colours in these. Great focus and details as always.


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