Devon

Yesterday I tried something I've never done before, and that's animating a wasp! I'm not a professional, but I still had fun doing this. It's the first time I animate anything in 15 years, so I understand if it's not 100% accurate.

#animation #Polistes #PaperWasp #art

Most likely an imaginary species of Metapelma. Drawn in coloured pencils and white posca marker.

This wasp is a Metapelma sp. , or perhaps even an imaginary species of Metapelma. Coloured pencils and white posca marker on 8½ x 11 cardstock. I tried my best.

#Metapelma #Metapelmatidae #Chalcidoidea

Thank you! I really tried my best. 😅

ナガコバチ科 ( Metapelma sp. ) ♀ 山の中、手すりを行ったり来たりパトロール中のナガコバチがいました。体長約6mmと、かなり大型。採集して調べると2013年4月に撮影したMetapelma sp.♂にそっくり。多分、同種のメスではないかと思います。 おちゃたてむしさんが 2019年に撮影 されているものと同じように...

Inspiration/Reference:
baba-insects.blogspot.com/2020/05/meta...

Metapelma sp. viewed from underneath.

My best attempt at drawing a species of Metapelma sp. viewed from underneath. It's crazy how hairy they are in real life. A very rainbowy species when viewed up close. Perhaps my pencils are a little too saturated? 🤔

#Metapelma #Metapelmatidae #Chalcidoidea

Pelecinus polyturator in an elegant black dress...because why not!

Pelecinus gothyturator.

She's attending the Hymenoptera ball. 👗

#Pelecinuspolyturator

One of my friends who is a field mycologist (study of mushrooms). Megarhyssa happens to be his favourite wasp.

Another friend who is very enthusiastic about soccer. The little device on the antenna is a cochlear implant. I chose Ectemnius for him because he inspired a square-headed wasp themed comic for my book and thought of the caption!

I've been trying out something new lately and that's drawing my friends and family as wasps participating in their favourite hobbies/activities. I've only drawn two so far, but I plan on doing more! This is fun!

#Megarhyssa #Ectemnius #Cartoon #Comic #Anthropomorphic #Wasps

DONE. I may have to do little adjustments and fixes here and there, but overall I'm happy with how this turned out in the end. 🥳 48 different wasps from around the world!

DONE. I may have to do little adjustments and fixes here and there, but overall I'm happy with how this turned out in the end. 🥳 48 different wasps from around the world!

#Wasps #Hymenoptera #Apocrita #Aculeata #Parasitica #TraditionalArt #Illustration

Pleistodontes froggatti ♀️ Agaonidae.

Pleistodontes froggatti ♀️! I'm almost finished with my project! As usual, constructive criticism is welcome. Only 3 wasps left to draw! 🐝 #Pleistodontesfroggatti
#Agaonidae

Thank you! 🙂

Chiloe micropteron. Now in Baeomorphidae, formerly known as Rotoitidae.

Chiloe micropteron! Now in Baeomorphidae, formerly known as Rotoitidae. I've wanted to draw one of these gals forever, and finally got around to it! I hope I did a good job! Constructive criticism is always welcome.
#Chiloemicropteron #Baeomorphidae

Ypsilonigaster tiger. Braconidae, Microgastrinae. From Thailand. Host unknown. Coloured pencils.

Finally got around to drawing Ypsilonigaster tiger! Jose Fernandez from the CNC approved, so that's nice! I literally have 6 wasps to go, and I'm finished! #Ypsilonigastertiger #Microgastrinae

https://zootopia.fandom.com/wiki/Gary_De%27Snake

https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/blogs/creatura-blog/2017/09/beware-the-impossibly-beautiful-blue-viper/

I think it's cool that one of the new characters in the second Zootopia movie is a pit viper. I feel like he's probably based on Trimeresurus insularis!! What do you think?
#PitViper #Snakes #Trimeresurusinsularis

Rock on! 🤟🏼 A guitarist Polistes dominula absolutely shredding it.

Rock on! 🤟🏼

#Polistesdominula #IndieRock
#Inspiration

Dasymutilla gloriosa, female.

Throwback to this drawing from 2017 of Dasymutilla gloriosa. I don't even know where the original illustration is, but maybe I should try to redraw it?? This species is quite sexually dimorphic. The male looks totally different! Perhaps I should draw both sexes! #Dasymutillagloriosa #Illustration

Depression sucks. I haven't had the motivation or inspiration to draw any scientific illustrations of wasps for months. I keep hoping that, that spark will ignite again soon, and I will be on my way to finishing a project that's been over a year in the making. In the meantime, here are some random Polistes nimpha doodles that I sketched/coloured today.

These last few months have been a struggle. Nevertheless, I managed to sketch some random Polistes nimpha doodles. Drawing cartoony wasps always helps a bit with depression. I hope to carry on with my drawing project again soon. #Polistesnimpha #Cartoon #Expressions #Paperwasps #Hymenoptera #Wasps

One thing for certain, this isn't old stock marovato ocean jasper. This could be kabamby, orbicular, sea or river jasper. All of which are a microcrystalline variety of quartz.

New sphere! I believe it is a variety of ocean jasper. "Ocean Jasper" is formed through the process of silicification, where other minerals are replaced by silica (primarily quartz), resulting in the formation of chalcedony. It primarily consists of silicified rhyolite and quartz.

New sphere! I believe it is a variety of ocean jasper. "Ocean Jasper" is formed through the process of silicification, where other minerals are replaced by silica (primarily quartz), resulting in the formation of chalcedony. It primarily consists of silicified rhyolite and quartz.

New sphere! I believe it is a variety of ocean jasper. "Ocean Jasper" is formed through the process of silicification, where other minerals are replaced by silica (primarily quartz), resulting in the formation of chalcedony. It primarily consists of silicified rhyolite and quartz.

New sphere! I believe it is a variety of ocean jasper. "Ocean Jasper" is formed through the process of silicification, where other minerals are replaced by silica (primarily quartz), resulting in the formation of chalcedony. It primarily consists of silicified rhyolite and quartz.

New sphere! I believe it is a variety of ocean jasper. "Ocean Jasper" is formed through the process of silicification, where other minerals are replaced by silica (primarily quartz), resulting in the formation of chalcedony. It primarily consists of silicified rhyolite and quartz.

Thank you! 🙂

Theronia maculosa. One of the coolest Pimplines in my opinion! Native to Australia.

I just think Theronia maculosa is awesome. That's it, that's the post!
#Theroniamaculosa #Pimplinae

Thank you very much!!! 😊

Phrudus sp. (Tersilochinae) is my initial ID, if corrected, I will add a comment with the correct ID in the post. This was taken a while ago (2016), so that's why I don't remember the location. I don't have any other photos from different angles either. I apologize! I will definitely have a look next time I'm in the CNC! I'll be able to compare with real specimens.

I would appreciate a consensus from an Ichneumonologist, if possible! Unfortunately, I don't have a photo of the det label, nor do I remember the location. No other photos from different angles either, but I think this is Phrudus (Tersilochinae)? Maybe I'm wrong, but I'd appreciate corrections!!

Dasymutilla aureola. Drawn with coloured pencils.

Another wasp from the series. This one is Dasymutilla aureola! Drawn with coloured pencils.
#Dasymutillaaureola

Waspception: a parasitoid of a parasitoid. This Amblyjoppa fuscipennis is in for a big surprise when she finds out the dark secret that this Euperilampus triangularis holds. Many Perilampids are hyperparasitoids of Ichneumonidae/Braconidae or Tachinidae that develop inside Lepidopteran larvae. The first larval stage of Perilampids are known as planidia, which are specialized insect larvae with a parasitoidal way of life. The function of the planidial stage is to be mobile and find/climb onto a host, which the later legless larval instars may feed, generally until they pupate.

Waspception: a parasitoid of a parasitoid. This Amblyjoppa fuscipennis is in for a big surprise when she finds out the dark secret that this Euperilampus triangularis holds. Many Perilampids are hyperparasitoids of Ichneumonidae/Braconidae or Tachinidae that develop inside Lepidopteran larvae.

I'm glad I can help a bit! I've been fascinated by them since I was 16. Percentage-wise, there are more wasps that can't sting than ones that can. The Aculeates make up only about 30% or less of all wasp species. The other 70% or more are tiny parasitoids, and harmless for the most part!

Queen blackjacket (Vespula consobrina) preening and consuming dried fruit juice from my palm and fingers. May 25th, 2024. #Vespulaconsobrina #Blackjacket

There are loads of wingless wasps from different families/superfamilies. Usually the females are the wingless ones in contrast to their winged male partners, but in the case of fig wasps (Agaonidae) the roles are reversed with the males being wingless and females being macropterous!

The rarely encountered females are apterous (wingless) and are found underneath rocks, while the more common winged males are nocturnal and attracted to lights. They are distributed in arid and semi-arid areas of western South America and southern Africa. Little is known of their biology!

Female Plumarius sp. One of the most elusive wasps out there with virtually zero reference photos online, other than a black and white scientific illustration. Drawn with coloured pencils. Constructive criticisms welcome! I did my best in terms of accuracy based on two photos of a dead specimen that were privately sent to me, and an illustration from a book.

Female Plumarius sp. One of the most elusive wasps out there with virtually zero reference photos online, other than a black and white scientific illustration. I was privately sent two photos of a dead specimen, and used an illustration from a book as references. #Plumariidae #Chrysidoidea

Fluorescent volcanic agate skull

Fluorescent volcanic agate skull

Fluorescent volcanic agate skull

Fluorescent volcanic agate skull

While we're still on the topic of uv reactive minerals, I've had this fluorescent volcanic agate skull for years, and have only just discovered that it fluoresces! Mind blown! 🤯 Up next, is a wasp post!
#Fluorescentvolcanicagate