Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

Saying Goodbye

Everybody is closing up for the winter. On Saturday, two of the Bald-faced Hornet Nests I pass while walking to the farmers’ market were still modesty active in 51 degree F weather.
A week ago, I saw this queen resting in the sun. The queens, who mate in the fall, are the only members of the hive who live beyond the first freeze. She will tuck herself out of the way, perhaps in some rotten wood, shut down for several months, and then wake up in the spring, ready to start a new hive.
And another, from Tuesday.

mthew

5 responses to “Saying Goodbye”

  1. wildreturn1

    COOL!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  2. Chuck McAlexander

    What is the function ofnthe three brown dots on the brown surfac between the eyes in the last photo? Also visual?

    Reply
    1. mthew

      Those are simple eyes, ocelli; they detect polarized light, and the position of sun and are used in navigating, finding their way home, etc.

      Reply
      1. Chuck McAlexander

        Anybody ever test to se what otheer bands of the electromagnetic spectrum the ocelli detect? Magnetism, maybe?

  3. elwnyc

    One of my favorite wasps, probably because it’s one of the easiest to ID, and pretty besides.

    Reply

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