<< Previous Next >>

Sceliphron caementarium


Sceliphron caementarium
Photo Information
Copyright: Syed Abid Hussain (Hussain58) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 258 W: 2 N: 901] (4745)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2012-05-04
Categories: Insects
Exposure: f/2.8, 1/60 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2012-05-05 8:24
Viewed: 3132
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Took this photograph today in the early morning around 08:30 am while this Black and yellow Mud Dauber(Sceliphron caementarium) wasp warily approached its nest.There was a jumping spider in the vicinity and and one or two ants also ventured close which were chased away with mock bites and jerks of the jaws.I do hope I have identified the species correctly.There will be more shots which I hope to share with friends here....perhaps extreme close-ups.
Personally I love these solitary wasps and keep a close watch over them and love their presence at home.I am happy to see their holed nests when the hatchlings fly away.

Black and yellow mud dauber is a common name for the sphecid wasp species Sceliphron caementarium. They are solitary insects that build nests out of mud, in sheltered locations, frequently on man-made structure such as bridges, barns, open porches or under the eaves of houses. These nests are not aggressively defended, and stings are rare.

The black and yellow mud dauber's nest comprises a series of cylindrical cells that are plastered over to form a smooth nest that may attain nearly the size of a human fist. After building a cell, the female wasp captures several spiders. The captured prey are stung and paralyzed before being placed in the nest, and then a single egg is deposited on the prey within each cell. The wasp then seals the cell with mud. After finishing a series of cells, she leaves and does not return. Eventually, the hatching larva will eat the prey and emerge from the nest. A common species of cuckoo wasp, Chrysis angolensis, is frequently a cleptoparasite in Sceliphron nests, and is only one of many different insects that parasitize these mud daubers.

There are some 30 other species of Sceliphron that occur throughout the world, though in appearance and habits they are quite similar to S. caementarium. S. caementarium is widespread in Canada, the United States, Central America, South Africa and the West Indies, and has been introduced to many Pacific Islands (including Australia, Hawaii and Japan), Peru and Europe, where it has become established in the western Mediterranean Basin.
marius-secan, ramthakur, anel, josediogo1958 has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Ciao Hussein, interesting macro of wasp and its nest, fine details, splendi sharpness, wonderful light and colors, I like a lot, bravo, ciao Silvio

Hello Abid Bhai,
what a nice capture of this insect behavior in a nice picture you captured, great sharpness and all the character revealed.
best wishes,
samiran

Hello Abid,
Remarkable photo with exceptional clarity and focus. Outstanding composition, sharpness and fantastic details. The contrast against the background is superb. Very good WB and exposure. Excellent composition with brilliant colors.
Marius.

Hello Hussein
Excellent photo of the wasp set off against a neutral background. Great to see them with their nest.
Excellent detail and light, nicely composed.
regards yiannis

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2012-05-05 14:16]

Hello Syed.
This wasp is wonderful ! Composition and details are great. Congratulations!
Best regards Siggi

Spot on ID, Abid bhai. Enjoyed reading the note.
The picture itself is a wonderful documentation of the species. The mud nest this Mud Dauber has built is an interesting structure for me.
The image is sharp, crisp and colourful. The way the Wasp is peeping into the nest makes it a very lively scene.
Well done and TFS!
Ram

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2012-05-06 5:14]

Hello Abid,
Remarkable shot of this striking wasp and its nest. A great documentary shot presented with an amzing sharpness with this low shutter-speed. Bravo!
Interesting note too. Thanks.
Kind regards
Anne

Hello Abid my Friend
Hope You well and healthy.
Wonderful wasp,very crispy macro,fantastic colours and sharp details.Congrats!
Thank You for the lovely note.
Warmest regards my good Friend
Take care..
J.Diogo

  • Great 
  • nagraj Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1618 W: 106 N: 3208] (15166)
  • [2012-05-07 0:53]

Hi,
Well captured image of this beautiful wasp with its nest..tfs.
nagraj.v

  • Great 
  • Cobo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 236 W: 1 N: 535] (5799)
  • [2012-05-07 9:36]

A great macro Hussain! Perfect focus and great detail. I like the color and also it is a picture that show action. The light and composition are alos very good. Thanks for sharing it, have a good day and congratulation.

Hello Abid
Beautiful and interesting photo with good composition, wonderful lighting and great sharpness!
Regards,
Christodoulos

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF