Two tiny jugs made of mud, side-by-side on a Magnolia grandiflora leaf.
Were they made by fairy potter?
Do they contain tiny scrolls from an ancient fairy kingdom?
No. They are made by a remarkable wasp, a Potter wasp/Eumenes species.
Mama Potter carries the mud in her mouth
and shapes the jug with her mouth parts and long skinny abdomen.
She leaves to top open to deposit a paralyzed caterpillar and an egg. Then seals it shut.
Her baby wasp nestles inside its jug and eat its snack.
When it is big enough, it eats a hole in the side of its jug and emerges.
What a good mama!
FLOWER
floweralley 
wow!
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Very cool photos! Very interesting insect story!
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I wish I had caught the wasp at work or the babies emerging. Maybe next time. Thanks
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We may have the same or similar wasp as I find those on my leaves. My mud dobbers have been busy, which means we will be busy cleaning it up the mud pods. I have a photo I need to post of the wasps collecting the mud. It has been one of those summers and I am far behind in posting.
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I would love to see that. Thanks.
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Que c’est beau et comme la nature est bien faite 🙂 Merci, c’est la première fois que je vois cela.
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Amazing! They are better at pottery than I am.
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