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What's In There? - _TNY_5769

Swedes drink a lot of coffee. Along with the Finns, Swedes actually drink the most coffee in the world

 

While visiting the Rotsidan nature reserve (www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53166833359/) on the High Coast about 100 km from my Mother-in-law's place, we had a little coffee break when I noticed this little lady swooping in and landing on a log right next to me. It's a parasitoid wasp known as Gasteruption jaculator and as the (incredibly long) ovipositor tells us it's a female.

 

These use that ovipositor to reach into hard to reach places and lay their eggs in nests of masked bees (Hylaeus) so I figure she noticed this hole and landed to try and figure out if there was a suitable nest to parasitise on in there.

 

Best part? Shooting was quick so the coffee didn't get cold.

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Uploaded on October 25, 2023
Taken on August 15, 2023