unknown yellow jacket... - Vespula pensylvanica

Western Yellowjacket (Vespula pensylvanica) worker

Very good "captures" of such a nervous insect - even if it was busy by licking nectar from the yellow umbellae. I agree the plant is either a species of dill (Anethum) or fennel (Foeniculum). Both genera are a valuable source of nectar for Hornets, Yellowjackets and Paper-wasps in mediterranean Europe too, especially in late summer or early autumn.

… Richard Vernier, 28 May, 2005 - 1:44pm

Nice wasp

but plant looks more like an umbellifer (carrot, parsley, etc) with compound umbells than a mustard. Interesting

… john and jane balaban, 27 May, 2005 - 10:56pm

plant id

john and jane, o.k. you've got me there, the plant was id'd for me by someone else, i'm nearly as ignorant of plant id's as i am of insect id's, but i love to photograph both of them... plant is about 7 feet high, growing in clumps roughly 6 feet in diameter, about thirty meters from a river... growth pattern similar to asparagus that's gone to seed... it's VERY popular with these yellow jackets, but in two years of searching, i've yet to find their nest site... ted

… ted edwards, 28 May, 2005 - 10:12am

California

California is certainly out of our expertise for plants. We're midwestern flatlanders. There are many genera in the Carrot family. Your description could fit Dill (Anethum). Crushing the leaves might tell you quickly! But we wish we could help with the animal. Eric will probably know it.

… john and jane balaban, 28 May, 2005 - 10:57am

Astute observation by the John & Jane team!

This plant is indeed in the Carrot family (Apiaceae), and it is Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare). Though not native to California, it grows in many disturbed places, such as roadsides.

… Hartmut Wisch, 24 March, 2007 - 7:51pm