Location: Texas Panhandle, USA The food chain is interesting. Last week we noticed yellow jackets on the sunflowers. After watching closely we discovered that ants were after the aphids and the yellow jackets were catching the ants. The next day we found a very large bee (or hornet) that had captured and killed a yellow jacket. Today swarms of yellow jackets and other wasps looking bugs, plus flies, ants, and other insects were all over the sunflowers. Appeared to be eating sap and also maybe smaller insects. Not sure. Too many in the clumps of bugs to tell exactly what was going on. Didn't seem to mind the fact that I was close and watching.
It's a jungle out there!
ReplyDeleteThat was very interesting - sort or kill or be killed. I had never heard the name yellow jacket before. Seems to be a type of wasp that we do get now and again in Switzerland, but no so often.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots Lynda, and yes it's a food chain for sure lol
ReplyDeleteThe little critters surely are hoeing in there Lynda.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you presented the slide show BTW.
I am not sure what any of these bugs are but it seems that you are not too bothered by them there.
They don't seem to give a hoot about you it seems either. They are on a mission.
Fascinating post. If I find out more I will let you know.
I found this by accident recently by clicking on share and then embeded album & copy. Back on blog check edit html. Paste the copied code and it turns into a slide show. On my site it is a regular photo album that I posted Sept. 12th.
ReplyDeleteMost are yellow jackets, a type of wasp and they do sting but didn't seem worried about use watching. The album has more info: Sunflowers & Bugs
ReplyDeleteThese are awesome photos! It's like Wild Kingdom or National Geographic in your own back yard :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing them :-)