More Recycling

A dead squirrel was hosting a mess of flies. A couple of Bald-faced Hornets patrolled the corpse, too. I know some Vespula ground Yellowjackets will chomp on carrion, but are the Dolichovespula doing the same? I’ve also seen them on dog droppings.

Perhaps these wasps are hunting all the flies that corpses and excrement attract. In this instance, this was the case.

Hello! A flash of black and orange beetle means a Nicophorus burying beetle! First I’ve seen in Green-Wood. N. tomentosus is likely, but this thing was fast and was not waiting for Your Faithful Paparazzo. It disappeared into the leafy duff.