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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Vespoidea » Hornets, Yellowjackets; Paper, Potter, Mason, and Pollen Wasps; and Allies (Vespidae) » Potter and Mason Wasps (Eumeninae) » Parancistrocerus » Parancistrocerus perennis
Photo#994590
Wasps - Parancistrocerus perennis - male - female
Copyright © 2014 Nikole Loomis (Bush Cricket and Buckeye Lover)

Wasps - Parancistrocerus perennis - Male Female
Coatesville, Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA
September 11, 2014
I'm not positive what these wasps are doing. I think they might have been mating, and the bottom wasp might have been eating a larva. Can anyone ID the wasps for me?

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Wasps - Parancistrocerus perennis - male - female Wasps - Parancistrocerus perennis - male - female Wasps - Parancistrocerus perennis - male - female
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Contributed by Nikole Loomis (Bush Cricket and Buckeye Lover) on 11 September, 2014 - 2:56pm
Last updated 10 August, 2018 - 11:00pm

Curious
It is unsusual to see a pair where the female carries prey. Perhaps the male is hoping to mate but I don't think it's going to happen while she has the prey in her mandibles. She does not eat the caterpillar but takes it as prey for her larvae.
… Matthias Buck, 27 December, 2015 - 7:49pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Potter and Mason Wasps.
… Matthias Buck, 27 December, 2015 - 7:47pm login or register to post comments

Moved for expert attention
Moved from ID Request.

Looks as though she was accosted as she was transporting prey to her nest (it's food for her young, not for her).
… Ken Wolgemuth, 11 September, 2014 - 4:38pm login or register to post comments

 
That makes sense.
I didn't see her fly in. I only saw her perched, which is why I thought she was eating it. It didn't even occur to me that she might be feeding young. What will happen to her? Will the other wasp eat her?
… Nikole Loomis (Bush Cricket and Buckeye Lover), 11 September, 2014 - 6:29pm login or register to post comments

 
As a rule...
...adult wasps feed on nectar. It's the young that need the high-protein diet. She should be fine.
… Ken Wolgemuth, 11 September, 2014 - 6:32pm login or register to post comments

 
:)
Oh good. That's what I read, but it's good to hear confirmation. When you said that about her feeding her young, I was worried she would die and the young wouldn't get fed.
… Nikole Loomis (Bush Cricket and Buckeye Lover), 11 September, 2014 - 7:46pm login or register to post comments

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